Marshall Law
Encyclopedia
Marshall Law was an Australia
n television series, which aired on the Seven Network
in 2002, starring Lisa McCune
and Alison Whyte
as lawyers and sisters.
-style romantic comedy, and was one of four new prime-time series in 2002, as the beginning of an attempt to revive the Australian television industry. The concept combined with the cast of industry heavyweights initially seemed like a package that could not fail.
Although ratings were good the first week, figures quickly slumped and the series, which first aired in August, finished airing in November, cancelled after only 17 episodes. Subsequently repeat screenings were reedited to remove the Ally McBeal style CGI
effects.
, Marshall Law tells the story of two sisters - Ros and Verity Marshall (played by Lisa McCune
, popular after her seven-year run on Blue Heelers
; and Alison Whyte
, well known for her role on Frontline
) - working at the Magistrate's Court. Ros is a Junior Prosecutor who is more interested in partying, and is having to prove her worth at the bench; while the more-experienced and overachieving Verity is now working as a barrister.
Both sisters soon find themselves in for surprises. Ros realises just how out of her depth she may be, begging the help of legal aid solicitor Mikey O'Dea (Nick Farnell), and mentor Esther Hersch, QC (Anne Phelan
of Something in the Air).
Meanwhile Verity, working with her handsome but inept assistant Scott (Nathaniel Kiwi) faces her biggest challenge going up against one of the city's most eminent counsels, Dylan Boyd (William McInnes
from SeaChange
and Blue Heelers
) - her ex-husband.
Verity and Ros, despite leading very different lifestyles, find themselves being forced to work together in this competitive world, particularly with the likes of Judge Don Foster (Greg Stone
), Ros's boss Frank Dellabosca (Frank Gallacher), and the ambitious lawyer Prue Staley (Jane Hall
). Verity McIntyre appeared as Julie Larson.
Most major characters other than Lisa McCune's were cast differently, and many smaller roles were removed. Holmes explained :
Industry A-Lister Kerry Armstrong
originally played Verity, who was initially a magistrate rather than a barrister. In early 2002, Channel Seven
announced that Armstrong would not be continuing with the series, claiming that she wasn't right for the part and "refused to play the role differently". Months later Armstrong agreed with the rumours that the producers thought she was too old for the part of McCune's sister. She would later join the cast of another of 2002's new shows, MDA, which fared much better.
Alyson Whyte had played Jane Hall's role of Prue Staley before moving over to take on the role of Verity.
Lani Tupu played Verity's ex-husband in the pilot instead of William McInnes. Deidre Rubenstein played the tole that would become Anne Phelan's, and Bud Tingwell was the DPP before Frank Gallacher.
- it also faced tough competition in its Tuesday 9.30PM slot; Rove Live
and another Australian drama, Nine's Stingers
. It debuted well in its first week (airing Tuesday and Wednesday) but plummeted dramatically in week 2 and never recovered.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n television series, which aired on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
in 2002, starring Lisa McCune
Lisa McCune
Lisa McCune , is a four-time Gold Logie Award winning Australian actress, best known for her role as Senior Constable Maggie Doyle in Blue Heelers, and as Lt...
and Alison Whyte
Alison Whyte
Alison Whyte is a Tasmanian-born Australian actress best known for her role on the Australian television series Frontline and Satisfaction....
as lawyers and sisters.
History
The show was originally conceived as a legal drama mixed with Ally McBealAlly McBeal
Ally McBeal is an American legal comedy-drama series which aired on the Fox network from 1997 to 2002. The series was created by David E. Kelley, who also served as the executive producer, along with Bill D'Elia...
-style romantic comedy, and was one of four new prime-time series in 2002, as the beginning of an attempt to revive the Australian television industry. The concept combined with the cast of industry heavyweights initially seemed like a package that could not fail.
Although ratings were good the first week, figures quickly slumped and the series, which first aired in August, finished airing in November, cancelled after only 17 episodes. Subsequently repeat screenings were reedited to remove the Ally McBeal style CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
effects.
Synopsis
Set in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Marshall Law tells the story of two sisters - Ros and Verity Marshall (played by Lisa McCune
Lisa McCune
Lisa McCune , is a four-time Gold Logie Award winning Australian actress, best known for her role as Senior Constable Maggie Doyle in Blue Heelers, and as Lt...
, popular after her seven-year run on Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
; and Alison Whyte
Alison Whyte
Alison Whyte is a Tasmanian-born Australian actress best known for her role on the Australian television series Frontline and Satisfaction....
, well known for her role on Frontline
Frontline (Australian TV series)
Frontline is an Australian comedy television series which satirised Australian television current affairs programmes and reporting. It ran for three series of 13 half-hour episodes and was broadcast on ABC TV in 1994, 1995 and 1997.-Production:...
) - working at the Magistrate's Court. Ros is a Junior Prosecutor who is more interested in partying, and is having to prove her worth at the bench; while the more-experienced and overachieving Verity is now working as a barrister.
Both sisters soon find themselves in for surprises. Ros realises just how out of her depth she may be, begging the help of legal aid solicitor Mikey O'Dea (Nick Farnell), and mentor Esther Hersch, QC (Anne Phelan
Anne Phelan
Anne Mary Phelan, OAM , is a much awarded Australian actress, who has appeared prominently in Theatre, Australian television productions and soap operas, including Prisoner where she played the role of 'Top Dog' Myra Desmond and Monica Taylor in Something in the air...
of Something in the Air).
Meanwhile Verity, working with her handsome but inept assistant Scott (Nathaniel Kiwi) faces her biggest challenge going up against one of the city's most eminent counsels, Dylan Boyd (William McInnes
William McInnes
William McInnes is an Australian film and television actor and writer.-Television:After a recurring role on A Country Practice in 1990, McInnes appeared in series such as Bligh, Ocean Girl, and Snowy before making his name as Senior Constable Nick Schultz on Blue Heelers in 1994...
from SeaChange
SeaChange
SeaChange was a popular Australian television show that ran for 39 episodes from 1998 to 2001 on the ABC. It was created by Andrew Knight and Deborah Cox and starred Sigrid Thornton, David Wenham, William McInnes, John Howard, Tom Long and Kerry Armstrong...
and Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
) - her ex-husband.
Verity and Ros, despite leading very different lifestyles, find themselves being forced to work together in this competitive world, particularly with the likes of Judge Don Foster (Greg Stone
Greg Stone
Greg Stone is an Australian actor who has appeared in films, television and on stage.-Biography:Stone graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney in 1983 and won a Helpmann Award and Green Room Award for Best Actor for his role of George W. Bush in David Hare’s Stuff Happens...
), Ros's boss Frank Dellabosca (Frank Gallacher), and the ambitious lawyer Prue Staley (Jane Hall
Jane Hall (actress)
Jane Hall is an Australian actress and comedian.-Biography:Born in Melbourne, Hall grew up in the Dandenong Ranges....
). Verity McIntyre appeared as Julie Larson.
Original Pilot
The original Marshall Law pilot was a different affair. Titled Leather and Silk, with more emphasis on drama, Bevan Lee, co-creator with Alison Nisselle, described the pilot as being too serious. Executive Producer John Holmes acknowledged that emphasis on the workings of the law "... didn't hold a lot of excitement or interest, except for some die-hard people who love the law and are really interested in it".Most major characters other than Lisa McCune's were cast differently, and many smaller roles were removed. Holmes explained :
"There were too many people in it. You didn't get a chance to get any traction with any of the characters. There were so many incidental characters, when you watched it, you weren't quite sure who to focus on. Now there's much more concentration on Verity, Ros and Dylan. The show is much more about them and their lives and how they deal with each other, with the background of the legal profession, rather than it being about the legal profession with these characters in it."
Industry A-Lister Kerry Armstrong
Kerry Armstrong
Kerry Michelle Armstrong is an Australian actress on film, television, and stage. She is one of only two actresses to win two Australian Film Institute Awards in the same year...
originally played Verity, who was initially a magistrate rather than a barrister. In early 2002, Channel Seven
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
announced that Armstrong would not be continuing with the series, claiming that she wasn't right for the part and "refused to play the role differently". Months later Armstrong agreed with the rumours that the producers thought she was too old for the part of McCune's sister. She would later join the cast of another of 2002's new shows, MDA, which fared much better.
Alyson Whyte had played Jane Hall's role of Prue Staley before moving over to take on the role of Verity.
Lani Tupu played Verity's ex-husband in the pilot instead of William McInnes. Deidre Rubenstein played the tole that would become Anne Phelan's, and Bud Tingwell was the DPP before Frank Gallacher.
Ratings
Whilst the program came off the back of a strong lead in All SaintsAll Saints (TV series)
All Saints is an Australian medical drama which first screened on the Seven Network. The series debuted on 24 February 1998 and concluded its run on 27 October 2009...
- it also faced tough competition in its Tuesday 9.30PM slot; Rove Live
Rove Live
Rove, formerly Rove Live, was an Australian television talk show which premiered on the Nine Network on 22 September 1999, before moving to Network Ten which aired the program from 2000 until November, 2009. The show was hosted by comedian Rove McManus, and featured an ensemble cast, who presented...
and another Australian drama, Nine's Stingers
Stingers
Stingers was an Australian police drama television series. It ran for eight seasons on the Nine Network before it was canceled in late 2004 due to declining ratings and the late timeslot Channel Nine gave the program...
. It debuted well in its first week (airing Tuesday and Wednesday) but plummeted dramatically in week 2 and never recovered.
| Week | Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide | Perth | 5-City | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11-Aug 17 | 373,000 | 465,000 | 203,000 | 145,000 | 133,000 | 1,319,000 | 34 |
| Aug 11-Aug 17 | 391,000 | 461,000 | 201,000 | 130,000 | 111,000 | 1,293,000 | 38 |
| Aug 18-Aug 24 | 212,000 | 266,000 | 102,000 | 97,000 | 88,000 | 765,000 | 100 |
| Aug 25-Aug 31 | 241,000 | 338,000 | 115,000 | 109,000 | 104,000 | 906,000 | 72 |
| Sep 1-Sep 7 | 251,000 | 304,000 | 140,000 | 83,000 | 106,000 | 885,000 | 74 |
| Sep 8-Sep 14 | 252,000 | 282,000 | 136,000 | 86,000 | 97,000 | 852,000 | 76 |
| Sep 15-Sep 21 | 254,000 | 304,000 | 116,000 | 96,000 | 68,000 | 839,000 | 80 |
| Sep 22-Sep 28 | 254,000 | 264,000 | 121,000 | 83,000 | 89,000 | 811,000 | 86 |
| Sep 29-Oct 5 | 204,000 | 243,000 | 101,000 | 84,000 | 98,000 | 730,000 | 88 |
| Oct 6-Oct 12 | 238,000 | 237,000 | 122,000 | 94,000 | 103,000 | 794,000 | 84 |
| Oct 27-Nov 2 | 273,000 | 226,000 | 116,000 | 72,000 | 88,000 | 776,000 | 95 |
| Nov 3-Nov 9 | 236,000 | 230,000 | 124,000 | 65,000 | 61,000 | 716,000 | 94 |
| Nov 10-Nov 16 | 267,000 | 283,000 | 118,000 | 63,000 | 106,000 | 837,000 | 79 |
| Nov 17-Nov 23 | 251,000 | 237,000 | 115,000 | 74,000 | 83,000 | 761,000 | 85 |
| Nov 24-Nov 30 | 256,000 | 219,000 | 115,000 | 72,000 | 80,000 | 742,000 | 75 |
External links
- Marshall Law at AustralianTelevision.net