"Shark" (2006)TV series 2006-????

Creator:

Ian Biederman

Seasons:

1 | 2

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the courthouse.

Plot:

Title character Sebastian Shark is an L.A. hot-shot lawyer, who leaves his lucrative career as defender...

Plot Keywords:

Testimony | Defense Lawyer | Courtroom Drama | Courtroom | Dark Secret

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations

Cast

James Woods	...	Sebastian Stark (38 episodes, 2006-2008)
Danielle Panabaker	...	Julie Stark (38 episodes, 2006-2008)
Sophina Brown	...	Raina Troy (38 episodes, 2006-2008)
Sarah Carter	...	Madeleine Poe (38 episodes, 2006-2008)
Jeri Ryan	...	Jessica Devlin (38 episodes, 2006-2008)
Henry Simmons	...	Isaac Wright / ... (32 episodes, 2006-2008)
Sam Page	...	Casey Woodland / ... (22 episodes, 2006-2007)
Kevin Alejandro	...	Danny Reyes (16 episodes, 2007-2008)

Runtime:

Argentina:60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:M18 (season 1)

Filming Locations:

2315 Live Oaks Meadow Road, Malibu, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

Shark was in jeopardy of getting canceled before it even started, but James Woods gave the legal drama new life once he signed on to star in the pilot. Woods has spent most of his career focusing on feature films, not television.

Quotes:

Detective Isaac Wright: [Stark has just asked Isaac to follow Julie again] I can get someone from the department...
Sebastian Stark: I can't trust anyone else with this!
Detective Isaac Wright: No! I'm safer working undercover.
Sebastian Stark: [pause] ... please.
Detective Isaac Wright: [resigned] This is the LAST time...

Great character, great setup... great show?

The pilot for "Shark" was directed by Spike Lee. I honestly couldn't tell. There's nothing about it that is particularly cinematic or edgy.

But the premise is pretty neat. A highly paid, highly successful defense lawyer - James Woods - is forced into service on the other side of the barrister. He is now a district attorney for the state of California. Plus, he's asked to go after the same celebrities he used to defend.

So the episode plots of "Shark" could have it both ways - indulge in the scintillating glitz and seedy glamour of Hollywood while simultaneously bringing those sinners down every week. All with a great, snarky, brash anti-hero.

Unfortunately, the last third of the pilot started to get a little sappy and predictable (the main character begins to soften a little too quickly for my taste, no doubt helped by his unrealistically wise and aware daughter), but I still have hope.