A Law Show Set 25 Years from Now

aaron240 writes "CBS will be airing a pilot of a new show called 'Century City' tonight, Tuesday, March 16th. CNN has the story. The executive producer, Ed Zuckerman, had this to say about the future state of the law in America: 'Our future is a positive future. We assume that things are basically going to get better, progress will continue,' Zuckerman says. 'There will be problems -- new inventions, new technologies will bring with them difficulties -- but it's a bright future.' He also makes it clear that 'This is not a 'Blade Runner''. Is there any chance it will offer a decent treatment of the issues Open Source advocates worry about today? If he's so positive, could he possibly know anything about software patents to say nothing of SCO?"

Comments

First Episode of New Law Show

[Tongue In A Box]

Microsoft is currently appealing the latest decision orcing them to break apart...details in the next law show set 25 years ahead of this one.

C'mon

[Anonymous Coward]

"a legal drama set in the year 2030, where the lawyers find that though laws change, people remain the same."

Does that sound like something that would discuss issues like software licenses? No, it sounds like a legal soap opera. I don't think this will outlast a season.

Re:Not ANOTHER law show?

[Anonymous Coward]

It's a logical extension of current issues like "Should players be allowed to chemically enhance their bodies?"

You may not be interested in sports, but I am, and I'd be curious to see how they argue it, pro and con.

Too bad I don't have a TV anymore.

Why would he care about sco or anything like that?

[upstart1234]

Why would someone doing a tv show about law in the future really give a damn about the issues with SCO or anything about Open Source. Please people do you really think anyone out in the world but us (ie the slashdot crowd) gives a rat ass about these things?

Re:Not ANOTHER law show?

[Zordak]

No, I'm betting it gets cancelled before it has a chance to get that far. I've seen the previews, and for the most part, it just looks silly and contrived. Sort of like "The Practice" spent a steamy night in a seedy motel with "Minority Report," and this was the unhappy result.

Didn't we already settle this issue?

[El]

should a player with a super-accurate bionic eye be allowed to play professional baseball? Should women with breast implants be allowed to compete in wet T-shirt contests?

Re:Didn't we already settle this issue?

[DShard]

Conversely, should women who don't have implants get points deducted for lack of dedication to their sport.

Re:Didn't we already settle this issue?

[GrayWizard]

To quote Futurama's Miss Universe Contest rule:
Contestants must not exceed 50% implant.

OSS?

[NineNine]

Can somebody please explain to me what OSS has to do with a futuristic law show? I swear, I expect any day to see a story on something even *more* inane, such as a new color for Pepsi, and somehow, /. is going to relate that to OSS. There really IS more to life than OSS, people! Hell, there's a LOT more to *geek* life than OSS!

Re:Bright Future?

[AuMatar]

While I don't disagree that women should be able to vote anywhere, exactly why do you think that will reduce war? We've had more wars in the US in the past century with women voting than in the century before without.

Is there any chance...

[3Suns]

Is there any chance it will offer a decent treatment of the issues Open Source advocates worry about today?

I heard a radio ad for this show this morning. The quote was "Ma'am, is it true that you started a relationship with this man for the purpose of downloading his personality?"

So I'd say, probably not. Sounds like more far-fetched, yet hackneyed sci-fi cliches inserted into Law&Order.

One review article:

[Greedo]

From The Globe and Mail:

Just imagine the pitch some scriptwriter must have delivered for the new series Century City (CBS, 9 p.m.): "Sexy lawyers in the future! And they're practising law!" It must have seemed a good idea at the time.

Certainly, the network would like the show to become a breakaway ratings hit (not likely), but more likely, it's airing it because it's already spent the money.

The show is set in a high-end L.A. law firm, circa 2030. The company is managed by a few salty old-schoolers, Hector Elizondo among them, and a few young upstarts, including the necessary young idealist (Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd), best known from several turns as the lead in C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower on A&Eand wildly miscast here.

The first episode veers between two cases customized and contrived to fit the futuristic format: A scientist (David Paymer) is arrested for cloning, although he was doing it only to save his son's life. A septuagenarian rock star (Anthony Zerbe) is sued by his band mates for refusing to undergo procedures to look young.

Sad to report, the future looks pretty much the same as the present does, except with cleaner air and fancier laptops. There are a few advances: Pre-trial hearings are accomplished via holograms. Characters marvel about cherries without pits. But where are the moving sidewalks, the sassy robot maids and other conveniences promised to us by Alvin Toffler and The Jetsons?

Nothing is exceptional about Century City, neither its concept nor its cast, made up largely of vaguely familiar TV faces, which includes a bit player from Suddenly Susan and a woman from Judging Amy. They are actors at a way station -- on the rebound from one show and on their way to the next.

Re:Man science moves fast...

[IronBlade]

but I must express my doubts that LA will have maglev monorails and all cars will be fuel cell powered by then.

Well, if the site I link to is any indication, then the cars will have to run on something other than petroleum products.
Would be interesting to see if the coming energy crisis will be covered at all...
Somehow, I doubt it, as ignorance (and/or denial) is bliss...