The shoe fits for Harry’s Law

The new NBC dramedy Harry’s Law may be the best television series revolving around shoe sales since Married with Children. Actually, it is probably the only show featuring a shoe store since the famous sitcom left the air. That aside, this upstart series is, in fact, a law show that has a great comedic vein to it much like its star Kathy Bates.

Bates plays a burned out and bored corporate patent lawyer, Harriet Korn, that comes off being fired and is finding herself as a fresh defense attorney as she launches a new law practice in a former shoe store of which the business owner was evicted. Her assistant, played by Brittany Snow, follows her to the location of the new practice and, against Harriet’s will, turns it into Harriet’s Law and Fine Shoes after discovering that many of the abandoned shoes are high quality. Jenna Backstrom plays the part very well, perfectly balancing the aspects of being the assistant as well as an excited shoe shop manager. Rounding out the regulars introduced in the premiere episode was Nate Corddry, who plays a character, Adam Branch, who has idolized Harriet since facing her in a previous patent case. He shows his comedic skills well playing a young, intelligent lawyer with a bit of a bumbling streak within his character that is reminiscent of someone like Chevy Chase.

Apparently, the pilot that aired is a new version of the original intention of the show as many things have been tweaked. Corddry is a new addition and the central character was supposedly scripted for Lewis Black, who I think is genius. Bates, though, is perfect in this show as she perfectly delivers the sarcastic and tough Korn character with compassion for her clients, whoever they surprisingly may be as is the case in the first show.

Whatever all the changes may have been from the original concept, the final product is a winner in my book as I am bored of all the same old law shows that are on television.