The Deep End

Network: ABC
Episodes: Eight, including one unaired (hour)
Seasons: One

TV show dates: January 10, — February 25, 2010
Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: Tina Majorino, Leah Pipes, Ben Lawson, Mehad Brooks, Clancy Brown, Matt Long, Billy Zane, Nicole Ari Parker, and Norbert Leo Butz.

TV show description:      
The first years of a lawyer’s career can be the toughest as he/she adjusts to the shark-eat-shark legal world. It’s no exception for the five young first year associates at the prestigious Los Angeles law firm of Sterling, Huddle, Oppenheim, & Craft.

Addy Fisher (Tina Majorino) is a brilliant and eager-to-please young lady from the Midwest. Not only does she stand up for her clients but she also stands up for her friends as well. Addy comes from a large family and has built her own surrogate family at the firm. She also has a secret crush on fellow associate, Malcolm.

In stark contrast is Addy’s surrogate older sister, Beth Branford (Leah Pipes). She’s been born and bred in Beverly Hills and, as the last in a long line of attorneys, is very ambitious. A child of divorce, she secretly yearns for the approval of her high-powered attorney father. She’s attracted to Liam but knows he has a reputation as a ladies man. He can read her like a book which simultaneously drives her crazy and turns her.

A ladies man, Liam Priory (Ben Lawson), was born in Australia and educated in London. He’s one of those guys who seems to have it all — he’s handsome, athletic, and has a mischievous sense of humor. He’d be insufferable except for the fact that he’s dedicated to living as honestly as possible.

Malcolm Bennet (Mehad Brooks) is a graduate of the USC law program and joins the firm at the behest of managing partner Hart Sterling (Clancy Brown). He’s hired outside of the firm’s normal process when the judge he was going to work for died unexpectedly. The handsome and socially-conscious African-American is also brilliant, glib, and not without a wry sense of humor.

An incurable romantic, Dylan Hewitt (Matt Long) is also ambitious and intelligent but hyper-aware of doing the right thing. He was raised by his hard-working single mother in a lower-middle class household. A nurse, she died just before he graduated law school. He empathizes with the underdog and tends to fall for ladies who need rescuing.

Cliff Huddle (Billy Zane) is a managing partner at the firm who has earned the nickname of “Prince of Darkness.” He’s a gifted lawyer but is manipulative and interested only in the bottom line. He’s married to Susan Oppenheim (Nicole Ari Parker), the head of the firm’s litigation department and a very competitive lady. He loves her but finds it hard to be faithful.

Cliff is threatened by the return of second generation partner Hart Sterling. Representing the “old guard,” Hart puts a strong emphasis on philanthropy and values. He left the firm three years earlier to care for his ailing wife, Jessica. Returning three months after her death, Hart is unhappy with how Cliff has been running things.

Rowdy Kaiser (Norbert Leo Butz) is the firm’s chief talent scout and still technically an Associate. He oversees the first year program and often has to clean up any dirty laundry that might damage the firm’s powerful reputation.