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Picket Fences on CBS

1992, TV Show

Picket Fences: TV Guide News

David E. Kelley's surreal slice of small-town Wisconsin life centered on the Brock family: the town's sheriff, his physician wife and their three kids. There was some conventional murder and mayhem, along with dark humor. The occasionally bizarre story lines (like a `serial bather' sneaking into homes) were often juxtaposed with ruminations on a variety of social issues (among them, bigamy and euthanasia). While never much of a ratings hit, this was a critical darling, winning 14 Emmys.

I'm probably one of many ... | Matt Roush | 9/21/2007
Question: I'm probably one of many writing in about this, but you'll have to suffer through one more. I've seen only a few episodes of Boston Legal, enough to know that I didn't really enjoy the show but can see how people would like the characters. I even respect James Spader's work. He was excellent on The Practice way back when, and I'm assuming he's carried at least some of that over to the spin-off. But really, Emmy-worthy? This is even his second win, isn't it? I just don't understand it. Never mind the fantastic competition (Kyle Chandler and Matthew Fox off the top of my head) that weren't even nominated, but what could the voters have possibly seen to give him the award instead of their last chance to honor James Gandolfini for what will certainly go down as one of the more legendary roles in television history? Is it because the show is on HBO? Is it because it's a fundamentally flawed voting process and most of the voters never even watched Tony Soprano's work the final ... read more
Love your column, but at ... | Matt Roush | 7/27/2007
Question: Love your column, but at times your bias shows itself: Someone needs to come to the defense of Boston Legal after the drubbing it has earned over the past week. It's unduly harsh, and everyone (including you) needs to understand that people have different tastes. It seems that this show is being attacked because it took a spot over Friday Night Lights and Lost. But over the last three seasons, Boston Legal has been appointment television for me. Sure, it's not on par with Picket Fences or The Practice or even Boston Public (which got a bum deal from Fox), but the writing is always sharp, and it has an energy to it that I find very appealing. James Spader is terrific and the supporting and guest cast are at the top of their games. Is it at times preachy? Yes. Snooty? Sure. It's also true that this season has been inconsistent, and I am peeved that four great characters are gone in lieu of a cross-dresser and an annoying guest character who has been promoted to regular status ... read more
DVD Pick of the Week: June 19, 2007 | Today's News: Our Take | 6/13/2007
Animation fans will have a blast on June 19! Warner Bros. is releasing sets for The Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain on the 19th. Both shows hit "volume 3" on the same day, though this is the last time they'll be paired together; it's the final volume for Pinky. Warner also has the first season of The Powerpuff Girls, and Shout! Factory will put out the complete Batfink set, featuring 100 episodes (well, they're shorts) on four discs.Fans of classic shows can pick up Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Season 3, volume 1, Perry Mason Season 2, volume 1, or Daniel Boone Season 4 from Liberation Entertainment. Sony will release the first season of Silver Spoons, though that's not really "classic" television (are the '80s considered "classic" now? Maybe "semi-classic"?).My "Pick of the Week" goes to Picket Fences, the 1992 series from David E. Kelley. Though the set contains a single featurette ("All Roads Lead to Rome"), this is one of the most-requested titles on TVShowsOnDVD.com. Fans... read more
Boston Legal is a ... | Matt Roush | 5/1/2006
Question: Boston Legal is a well-written David E. Kelley series in the tradition of Picket Fences and The Practice. But I have become turned off in recent weeks by the show's tendency to break the fourth wall time after time. In one instance, Denny Crane (William Shatner) berates his friend and colleague Alan Shore for withholding important information from him. "I wish you had let me in on the game," Crane said. "I can act, you know. I won an Emmy." Shatner, of course, has won two Emmy awards for playing the off-the-wall attorney. In Tuesday night's episode, Shore (played by James Spader, another two-time Emmy winner) is warned by his overamorous secretary (Marisa Coughlan) not to become romantically involved with a female attorney (Kerry Washington). "Don't fall for her, Alan," the secretary said. "She's just a guest star." I don't know about you, but I take my TV dramas seriously. Satire is fine in its place, but it seems as if Boston Legal is taking things to a whole new level. Does ... read more
I have seen Desperate ... | Matt Roush | 1/9/2006
Question: I have seen Desperate Housewives compared to quite a few other past shows but never to the one that I think it most resembles: Picket Fences. What is your opinion about that comparison? Answer: An interesting idea, but I still think Knots Landing is the closest to a true precursor of what Desperate Housewives seeks to parody. Picket Fences did have elements of soap opera and satire in its often-twisted depiction of the dark undercurrents of society and family life, but it seemed to me more a comment on Americana than of actual suburbia and, being a David E. Kelley show, tended to resolve most stories in the courtroom (RIP, Ray Walston). Desperate Housewives' look and tone is beholden to the classic soap format, and Picket Fences was much harder to pigeonhole ... read more

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Picket Fences: TV Listings

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Premiered: September 18, 1992, on CBS

Rating: TV-PG

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Premise: David E. Kelley's surreal slice of small-town Wisconsin life centered on the Brock family: the town's sheriff, his physician wife and their three kids. There was some conventional murder and mayhem, along with dark humor. The occasionally bizarre story lines (like a `serial bather' sneaking into homes) were often juxtaposed with ruminations on a variety of social issues (among them, bigamy and euthanasia). While never much of a ratings hit, this was a critical darling, winning 14 Emmys.

Cast