Reasonable Doubts
Encyclopedia
Reasonable Doubts is a police drama broadcast in the United States
by NBC
that ran from 1991 to 1993.
Tess Kaufman (Marlee Matlin
), a prosecutor very sensitive to the rights of the accused, and hard-charging, gruff Detective
Dicky Cobb (Mark Harmon
), an old-fashioned cop with a "bust-the-perps" attitude. The reason that these two had been assigned to work together was that Cobb was one of the few available police officers who knew sign language
, and Tess, like the actress who portrayed her, was deaf. Dicky was usually more frustrated by Tess's attitudes than by her deafness; he also repeated what Tess said back to her to make sure that he understood it (Tess also read lips
) and this allowed the audience to understand her part of the dialogue. Dicky also spoke as he signed to Tess.
Both characters were involved with other people when the series started; Tess was estranged from, but still in contact with, her husband Bruce (Tim Grimm); Dicky had a manipulative
girlfriend named Kay Lockman (Nancy Everhard
). Kay was, unsurprisingly, quite jealous of Tess, and not without reason, as a considerable mutual attraction, despite their differences, developed between Tess and Dicky. The situation became more complicated with the death of Kay early in the second season, freeing the characters to pursue the relationship at least somewhat more, although its resolution was still up in the air when the program was not renewed for a third season. Executive producer Bob Singer gained some interest from the network in spinning off the show into a straight cop drama starring Harmon and Jim Beaver
, who had played Dicky's friend and partner Detective Earl Gaddis from the beginning of the show, but ultimately NBC demurred.
Marlee Matlin went on to join the cast of Picket Fences
(1994–1996) and continue her film career, Mark Harmon went on to join the cast of Chicago Hope
(1996–2000) and is the star of NCIS
(2003 to present), and Vanessa Angel starred on Weird Science
(1994–1998).
In the Seinfeld episode, "The Pitch" (Season 4, Episode 3), George and Jerry sit in an NBC waiting room under a poster of Mark Harmon and Marlee Matlin, an advertisement for the show "Reasonable Doubts".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
that ran from 1991 to 1993.
Synopsis
Reasonable Doubts is primarily about the working relationship between Assistant District AttorneyDistrict attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
Tess Kaufman (Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Bethany Matlin is an American actress. She is the only deaf actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which she won for Children of a Lesser God. Her work in film and television has resulted in a Golden Globe award, with two additional nominations, and four Emmy...
), a prosecutor very sensitive to the rights of the accused, and hard-charging, gruff Detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
Dicky Cobb (Mark Harmon
Mark Harmon
Mark Harmon is an American actor who has been starring in American television programs and films since the mid-1970s, after a career as a collegiate football player with the UCLA Bruins. Since 2003, Harmon has starred as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the CBS series NCIS.-Early life:Harmon was born Thomas...
), an old-fashioned cop with a "bust-the-perps" attitude. The reason that these two had been assigned to work together was that Cobb was one of the few available police officers who knew sign language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
, and Tess, like the actress who portrayed her, was deaf. Dicky was usually more frustrated by Tess's attitudes than by her deafness; he also repeated what Tess said back to her to make sure that he understood it (Tess also read lips
Lip reading
Lip reading, also known as lipreading or speechreading, is a technique of understanding speech by visually interpreting the movements of the lips, face and tongue with information provided by the context, language, and any residual hearing....
) and this allowed the audience to understand her part of the dialogue. Dicky also spoke as he signed to Tess.
Both characters were involved with other people when the series started; Tess was estranged from, but still in contact with, her husband Bruce (Tim Grimm); Dicky had a manipulative
Psychological manipulation
Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics. By advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at the other's expense, such methods could be considered exploitative,...
girlfriend named Kay Lockman (Nancy Everhard
Nancy Everhard
Nancy Everhard is an American actress.-Career:Everhard debuted in a small supporting role in the TV drama Born Beautiful from the year 1982. After numerous guest appearances in television series, she appeared in 1989 in the horror movie demo Stone next to Jan-Michael Vincent in a larger role...
). Kay was, unsurprisingly, quite jealous of Tess, and not without reason, as a considerable mutual attraction, despite their differences, developed between Tess and Dicky. The situation became more complicated with the death of Kay early in the second season, freeing the characters to pursue the relationship at least somewhat more, although its resolution was still up in the air when the program was not renewed for a third season. Executive producer Bob Singer gained some interest from the network in spinning off the show into a straight cop drama starring Harmon and Jim Beaver
Jim Beaver
James Norman "Jim" Beaver, Jr. is an American stage, film, and television actor, playwright, screenwriter, and film historian...
, who had played Dicky's friend and partner Detective Earl Gaddis from the beginning of the show, but ultimately NBC demurred.
Marlee Matlin went on to join the cast of Picket Fences
Picket Fences
Picket Fences is a 60-minute American television drama about the residents of the fictional town of Rome, Wisconsin, created and produced by David E. Kelley. The show initially ran from September 18, 1992, to June 26, 1996, on the CBS television network in the United States...
(1994–1996) and continue her film career, Mark Harmon went on to join the cast of Chicago Hope
Chicago Hope
Chicago Hope is an American medical drama series created by David E. Kelley that ran from September 18, 1994, to May 5, 2000. It takes place in a fictional private charity hospital.-Premise:The show stars Mandy Patinkin as Dr...
(1996–2000) and is the star of NCIS
NCIS (TV series)
NCIS, formerly known as NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, is an American police procedural drama television series revolving around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the U.S...
(2003 to present), and Vanessa Angel starred on Weird Science
Weird Science (TV series)
Weird Science is a mid-1990s American comedy series made for television, based on the 1985 film of the same name.-Plot:The series follows the adventures of Gary Wallace and Wyatt Donnelly , two socially inept high school students in an unspecified town in California...
(1994–1998).
In the Seinfeld episode, "The Pitch" (Season 4, Episode 3), George and Jerry sit in an NBC waiting room under a poster of Mark Harmon and Marlee Matlin, an advertisement for the show "Reasonable Doubts".
Cast
- Mark HarmonMark HarmonMark Harmon is an American actor who has been starring in American television programs and films since the mid-1970s, after a career as a collegiate football player with the UCLA Bruins. Since 2003, Harmon has starred as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the CBS series NCIS.-Early life:Harmon was born Thomas...
- Detective Dickie Cobb (1991–1993) - Marlee MatlinMarlee MatlinMarlee Bethany Matlin is an American actress. She is the only deaf actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which she won for Children of a Lesser God. Her work in film and television has resulted in a Golden Globe award, with two additional nominations, and four Emmy...
- Assistant District Attorney Tess Kaufman (1991–1993) - William Converse-Roberts - District Attorney Arthur Gold (1991–1993)
- Tim Grimm - Bruce Kaufman (1991–1993)
- Kay LenzKay LenzKay Ann Lenz is an American actress.A former child performer, Lenz has worked primarily in television and has won two Emmy Awards.-Background:...
- Maggie Zombro (1991–1993) - Bill Pugin - Ben Douglass (1991–1993)
- Jim BeaverJim BeaverJames Norman "Jim" Beaver, Jr. is an American stage, film, and television actor, playwright, screenwriter, and film historian...
- Detective Earl Gaddis (1991–1993) - Vanessa AngelVanessa Angel- External links :...
- Detective Peggy Elliott (1992–1993) - Marnie AndrewsMarnie AndrewsMarnie Andrews is an American stage and television actress who has had parts on ER, JAG, Murder One, The Wonder Years and the made for TV movie Shattered Mind ....
- Judge Andrea Claussen (1991–1993) - John Mese - Sean Kelly (1991–1992)
- Jim Pirri - Asher Roth (1992–1993)
- Leslie JordanLeslie JordanLeslie Allen Jordan is an American actor and playwright.- Early life and career :Hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and at a height of 4 ft 11 in , Jordan has made numerous appearances in both film and television...
- Marvin/Cliff Sizemore (1992–1993) - Willie C. Carpenter - Robert Maxwell (1991–1992)
- Michael HoldenMichael HoldenMajor General Michael James Holden is a fictional character from the Lifetime television series Army Wives, portrayed by Brian McNamara.- Personal life :Michael has been married to Claudia Joy Holden for 20 years...
- Judge Melvin Orrick (1991–1992) - James AchesonJames AchesonJames Acheson is a British costum designer.Born in Leicester, Acheson has a twin brother, Patrick. In the early 1950s, Acheson was a pupil at St. Marys Convent School, in Priory Street, Colchester, along with his brother...
- Andy Cromyer (1991) - Gregg HenryGregg HenryGregg Lee Henry is an American theatre, film and television character actor and rock, blues and country musician.-Biography:...
- Weldon Lewis (1992) - Richard GantRichard GantRichard E. Gant is an American film and television actor. His credits include the films Rocky V , as a possessed cornoner in Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday , Deadwood, Babylon 5, Special Unit 2, NYPD Blue, Living Single, Posse and Charmed...
- Alvin Pinkston (1991–1992)