Another motivation to keep the j-o-b talk to a minimum is my sincere wish not to besmirch the glorified, As Seen on TV version of the lawyer life (insert jokes here), that vaunted unicorn-and-rainbow universe filled with stirring speeches and defending the Constitution and bespoke suits. Not that I think you wise people really believe any of that, but it appears American TV writers do. Whether it be Tom Cruise bombastically EMOTING at Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men" (admittedly not TV, but appearing on cable enough to merit an exception) or the wacky dramedys like "Boston Legal" or "Ally McBeal", those odes to eccentricity that seem just incidentally set in law firms, I'm usually willing to overlook the outlandish errors and misrepresentations* in order to keep our rep (stop laughing) intact.
*Except for "Law & Order". Don't even go there.
There are times, however, when credulity is strained such that I cannot remain silent. I'm talking ridiculous on the level of, say, that Jonas Brother attempting to claim he doesn't use a flat iron** ***, or Cameron Diaz asserting that no, she actually didn't have time in the 6 months prior to the Golden Globes to get her roots done/ dress ironed/ makeup on. And so I bring you the next legal drama in the pipeline as starring . . . Hilary Duff:
**Men? Flat irons?? NO.
***Why, why do I know who the Jonas Brothers are??
(Credit: Entertainment Weekly)
The network has ordered a script for "Barely Legal," a comedy based on the true story of Kathleen Holtz, who in 2007 passed the notoriously difficult California bar at age 18 to become the state's youngest lawyer.
That sound? Is the remaining live bit of my soul crinkling up like so much tinfoil. What crazy legal hijinks do we think Lizzie McGuire here can get up to in her 1/2 hour time slot? Romantic rendevouz (rendevousez? rendevouzeii?) behind the file clerk's office, with Jonas Brothers' music sweetly playing in the background?
Raise your hand if you and your j-o-b (unpaid jobs included!) suffer the same TV-fied fate. What are the most laughable misrepresentations you've seen? Bonus points if your answer involves flat irons or boy bands . . .
19 comments:
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
I also have a post all mentally written about about other "perils of being a lawyer" for later this week.
You have to worry if a fellow takes longer to "style" his hair than any of us gals. A flat iron, oh my, you must be joking!
What about all the doctor shows too? The "drama" is just too much. How stressed do you think a surgeon actually gets when he is operation on ones cranium? I'd hope they would be completely calm, cool and collected.
Enough for now, I'm going to go watch some fake reality tv?
Delurking here, but as a fellow attorney, it is soooo annoying they make the law life looks glam. (but at least I am glad I didn't go to law school under the delusion that I would be making compelling and motivating legal arguments in cute outfits, but rather I attended bc what is one to do with a history degree). while I do see the quirky stories every once in a while (especially in certain cities, the paperwork is what seems to define the litigators world. but I guess it should be a compliment to the profession that they even make quirky shows. no one does the CPA firm sitcom or movie!
You mean those shows aren't really how it is? I thought it was because I'm just a small beach town attorney... Hmm. Learn something new everyday... WIth that, I think I'll go starch my fabulously unglamorous poplin shirt then go look for L.A. Law reruns...
no No NO! i refuse, Refuse, REFUSE to be in the same profession as Hilary Duff - even if she's faking it! Absolutely NOT!
Is Ms. Duff going to sit in a trailer filled with rat traps, sorting through hundreds of boxes of documents? Will Ms. Disney Princess gain 10 lbs from sitting behind a desk mindlessly billing clients for depo summaries?
BLECH.
btw: Barely Legal sounds like a porno name.
I remember when I first graduated law school - there was a website that announced they were casting a new drama called 1L or something like that? (Never mind that a 1L is a first year law student, NOT a first year lawyer as the series suggested). Anyway, I was sitting in a large conference room surrounded by hundreds of pages of documents and my friend said, "Who the hell would want to watch a show about what WE do?"
And you know, I think it lasted about one week.
Also, I am OBSESSED with L&O. I even drove four hours each way while I was studying for the bar exam just so I could see Jack McCoy (yes, I know he has a "real" name) in real life in a play. I even sat outside the stage door waiting for him to exit. He must have spotted me though because he never came out that way. :)
As a fellow lawyer, this post had me in a giggle fit!
I think Hillary Duff was sweet and cute when she was in her tv show, but playing a lawyer..is strange. Those writers really like making shows about laywers don't they. I wonder if every show will have a Disney ending--meaning Disney still gets a cut of her salary>?>
Hilary Duff? Barely Legal?! It's too much to bear.
And someone thought it was newsworthy...ugh.
this is a real low point for the legal profession....my condolences. what's next...hanna montana does wall st?
Seems completely unrealistic. Plus, it's Hillary Duff. That's like have Megan Fox play the queen of England.
Honestly, I cannot even watch lawyer shows anymore. I get zero enjoyment out of them. I think the last one I watched with any regularity was Ally McBeal, when I was a first year.
Hilary Duff horrifies me under the best of circumstances, but as a lawyer???? Um, no.
Okkeee, so, I'm not a lawyer (sad times!) but, I'm around them on a regular basis (my bff, my husband's bff, etc). I think Hillary Duff is cute and all, but, wowza--that's just too much!!
I've never had glamourous and exciting jobs that TV would pick up on. Although, there are a bagillion animal rescue shows on Animal Planet, and I used to work for an animal rescue organization...although, I wasn't the animal rescuer. I just wrote about them. So, I get no bonus point because there is no flat irons or boy bands involved. Unless of course they make a movie or TV show called University Life: What It Really Takes to Execute a Brochure/Ad Campaign. I know, totally glued to your seat. I know.
Although, once I get off my arse and finish le book and it becomes le movie, I will make sure to make ultra glam up my career. Can't I be Sophie Kinsells already?!
Seriously?
No really....Seriously?!?
I'm thinking that "Doogie Duff, JD" will be cancelled after the pilot...come on, can we please have shows based on a profession other than a doctor or a lawyer?
No way....
Seriously, Hilary Duff and "lawyer" should never be in the same sentence.
Oh dear. This is all wrong. Really.
This epitomizes the "You couldn't make this stuff up" phrase we are always using. Honestly.
tp
I don't know if I'd ever hire a lawyer that asks me to submit my payment in beer bongs and cosmos
I did want to intern with NCIS after I saw the show. I will admit that :)
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