For those who like to file lawsuits, the chance to file one against a TV network regarding a television series must be a huge draw. Larry Klayman, a man who has filed legal salvos against the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, and has also filed a class-action lawsuit against the Ground Zero mosque, may now pursue a lawsuit against the NBC series Outlaw.
Jimmy Smits stars in the series as a Supreme Court Justice who takes a stand against the establishment, and in an unprecedented move, quits the highest court in order to hopefully bring about some changes. It didn’t connect with many viewers, was cancelled after only a handful of episodes, and the remaining installments are now airing on Saturday nights. The series co-stars David Ramsey, Ellen Woglom, Carly Pope, and Jesse Bradford.
Klayman contends that three years ago, he got together with a group that included producer Cary Brokaw, former L.A. Law writer John Romano, and Fox Television Studios executive Dave Madden. They met with executives at NBC and pitched a series that was about someone very much like Klayman, a public-interest lawyer on a crusade. According to him, NBC was interested because their West Wing series already had a character based on him, Harry Klaypool. He even claims that “Outlaw” was amongst his suggested titles for the series.
Klayman claims that making the main character a Supreme Court judge was NBC adding its own twist to his idea. Other than that, he feels it was identical to the series he pitched. He doesn’t remember the names of the executives he met with at NBC, but says he can provide documents to prove his story.
NBC hasn’t commented about the claim yet, and a Fox Television Studios business and legal affairs executive, Shelly Reid, answered the call placed to Madden’s office. Reid reportedly declined to comment, but did state Fox wasn’t a party to this at all. Romano admits he worked with Klayman, but doesn’t recall going to NBC, but understands why they would have after West Wing. He admitted he was “also not struck by any similarities between Outlaw and the show Larry brought to us.”
Klayman hasn’t contacted NBC about this, but has an entertainment lawyer on retainer, wanting to negotiate it first. Klayman says that, if negotiating with the network doesn’t work out, he plans to bring a lawsuit against NBC.
It remains to be seen how much one could get over one of the most unsuccessful new series of this season. Maybe NBC could sue him for part of their losses?
What do you think? Does it sound like Klayman has a case?
Image courtesy NBC.
Love the show !!!!!Please don’t cancel it.
This series is actually quite good and they should not cancel it. What did they expect when they put it in the Friday night time slot. The cases are very interesting and the act ing is great. They need to give it a chance. Reminds me of what Friday Night Lights has gone through….. also a great show tha took soem time to get the recognition it deserved.
This was a great show particularly for folks over 21 years old…..Saturday night is an ideal time slot for this age group since the younger folk are out there doing their thing and we elders can enjoy some good acting with a decent story line..
I was appalled at the cancellation of the show after such a short time. It was quite well written and the group of actors were a terrific ensemble. It is rare when we get a well written show with good acting as well. I hate to see it go. If anything can be done please do it. I am willing to following it from channel to channel just to see it. Thank you, Susan
This show is good… Jimmy Smits is great!!! Please reconsider
Please! Don’t cancel one of the shows that are actually good, we have enough bad shows on already!
aah, NBC, do you guys ever know what you are doing? how can you cancel a show after a very few episodes? don’t you know you have to give the viewers time to resonate with the characters…..Jimmy Smits is a fantastic actor……NBC, you goofed yet again…
I loved the show and was looking forward to the entire season. As a criminal defense attorney myself i enjoyed the first 4 shows and like the idea of a supreme court justice leaving the bench to fight for people’s rights. Bring it back. the people like the show
That’s actually pretty pathetic. Did this happen before we learned it was cancelled?
All of you are right. They didn’t give it a chance, they kept moving it around. Hopefully CBS or ABC will pick it up
I can’t believe they canceled the Outlaw it just started it didn’t even get a chance, and I love Jimmy Smits in this show, all the networks cancel shows and leave on all those crazy reality shows, people only watch them because there is nothing else on.Cancel those reality shows they are the craziest programs on tv.
Lets leave some good shows on to watch. The outlaw wasn’t even given a chance, if it didn’t work on friday night’s move it to another night, but don’t cancel the show
I love Outlaw and Jimmy Smits. Leave it on Saturday nights. There is nothing worth watching on any of the channels on Saturday nights. I don’t understand why networks cancel the news shows without giving the viewer a chance to become invested in the characters. Then place repeats of some boring show in that time slot. In my area they put up People’s Court which runs once already in the afternoon.
NBC STILL ******** EVERYTHING UP WHEN WILL THEY LEARN?
I CANT BELIEVE THAT NBC HAS CANCELLED THE OUTLAW ALREADY THEY DIDNT GIVE IT A CHANCE I LOVE THAT SHOW I LOVE JIMMY SMITS AND WAS VERY EXCITED TO SEE HIM COME BACK TO A SERIES. HE IS A FABULOUS ACTOR. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH NBC???????
Anything to get money these days the show has been on for how long and now he files a law suite LOL