"Equal Justice" (1990) TV series 1990-1991

Creators:

Thomas Carter
Christopher Knopf
David A. Simons
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

27 March 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Follows the loves and lives of a group of Pittsburgh D.A. staff focusing on Arnold Bach, the honest...

Plot Keywords:

Ensemble Cast | Law | Loss

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

George DiCenzo	...	D.A. Arnold Bach (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Debrah Farentino	...	Julie Janovich (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Jane Kaczmarek	...	Linda Bauer (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Kathleen Lloyd	...	Jesse Rogan (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Barry Miller	...	Pete 'Briggs' Brigman / ... (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Joe Morton	...	Mike James (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Jo Ann Harris (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Cotter Smith	...	Dep. D.A. Eugene 'Gene' Rogan / ... (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
James Wilder	...	Christopher Searls (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Jon Tenney	...	Peter Bauer (25 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Directed by
Thomas Carter		(5 episodes, 1990-1991)
Dan Lerner		(3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Michael Switzer		(3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Kevin Hooks		(2 episodes, 1990-1991)
Eric Laneuville		(2 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Writing credits
Thomas Carter		(26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Christopher Knopf		(26 episodes, 1990-1991)
David A. Simons		(26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Deborah Joy LeVine		(5 episodes, 1990-1991)
Frank Abatemarco		(2 episodes, 1991)
Bryce Zabel		(2 episodes, 1991)

Series Produced by
Thomas Carter	....	executive producer (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Christopher Knopf	....	co-executive producer (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
David A. Simons	....	co-executive producer (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
David Rosenbloom	....	co-producer (25 episodes, 1990-1991)
Peter R. McIntosh	....	producer (13 episodes, 1990)
Frank Abatemarco	....	supervising producer (13 episodes, 1991)
Ian Sander	....	producer (13 episodes, 1991)
Frank South	....	supervising producer (12 episodes, 1990)
Joe Viola	....	senior producer (12 episodes, 1990)

Series Original Music by
Joseph Vitarelli		(26 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Cinematography by
Félix Enríquez Alcalá		(13 episodes, 1991)
Jeff Jur		(12 episodes, 1990)

Series Film Editing by
Wayne Wahrman		(5 episodes, 1990)
Karen I. Stern		(5 episodes, 1991)
Steven Kemper		(4 episodes, 1990)
Conrad M. Gonzalez		(3 episodes, 1991)
Neil Mandelberg		(3 episodes, 1991)
Harvey Rosenstock		(2 episodes, 1990)

Series Casting by
Nan Dutton		(13 episodes, 1990)
Barbara Claman		(13 episodes, 1991)
Donna B. Anderson		(11 episodes, 1991)

Series Production Design by
Paul Eads		(25 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Set Decoration by
Mary Ann Biddle		(13 episodes, 1991)
Cindy Carr		(12 episodes, 1990)

Series Costume Design by
Brad R. Loman		(13 episodes, 1991)
Richard von Ernst		(12 episodes, 1990)

Series Makeup Department
Carla Palmer	....	makeup artist (13 episodes, 1990)
Kathy W. Estocin	....	hair stylist (13 episodes, 1991)
Pat Gerhardt	....	makeup artist (13 episodes, 1991)
Robert Hallowell II	....	hair stylist (12 episodes, 1990)
Mimi Vodnoy	....	hair stylist (12 episodes, 1990)

Series Production Management
Denny Salvaryn	....	unit production manager (20 episodes, 1990-1991)
Mick McAfee	....	post-production supervisor (13 episodes, 1990)
Stanley Neufeld	....	executive in charge of production (13 episodes, 1990)
John Forrest Niss	....	executive in charge of post-production (13 episodes, 1991)
Deborah Zimmerman	....	post-production supervisor (13 episodes, 1991)
Donald Heitzer	....	unit production manager (5 episodes, 1990)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nancy King	....	second assistant director (23 episodes, 1990-1991)
Burt Burnam	....	first assistant director (12 episodes, 1990-1991)
Bill Scott	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1990-1991)
Allan Wertheim	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1990)
Janet Davidson	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1991)
James Lansbury	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1991)

Series Art Department
James Torvinen	....	property master (19 episodes, 1990-1991)
Will Blount	....	property master (6 episodes, 1991)
Hugh Conlon	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)
David Strand	....	assistant props (unknown episodes)
Daniel Turk	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Alfred T. Ferrante	....	adr mixer (25 episodes, 1990-1991)
Bruce Bisenz	....	sound mixer (22 episodes, 1990-1991)
Mace Matiosian	....	supervising sound editor (13 episodes, 1991)
Sam Horta	....	supervising sound effects editor (12 episodes, 1990)
John Sutton	....	sound mixer (4 episodes, 1990)
Paul J. Diller	....	sound effects editor (3 episodes, 1991)
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Marty Church	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)
Michael Gollom	....	dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
William Griggs	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1990)
Spike Silver	....	stunts (1 episode, 1990)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Adam Alphin	....	clapper loader (13 episodes, 1991)
Gregg Guellow	....	key grip (13 episodes, 1991)
Kevin Kelley	....	gaffer (13 episodes, 1991)
J. Patrick Daily	....	key grip (12 episodes, 1990)
Scott Guthrie	....	gaffer (12 episodes, 1990)
Michael E. Little	....	extra camera operator (3 episodes, 1990)
Tom Jensen	....	additional second assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Susan Peck	....	casting associate (12 episodes, 1990)
Nan Dutton	....	original casting (8 episodes, 1991)
Jennifer Selle	....	casting assistant (2 episodes, 1991)

Series Editorial Department
Bonnie Stern	....	post-production coordinator (8 episodes, 1991)

Series Music Department
David Bell	....	composer: theme music (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Susan Marder	....	composer: theme music (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Allan K. Rosen	....	music editor (26 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Other crew
Frank Iannucci	....	technical consultant (25 episodes, 1990-1991)
Barbara Amato	....	script supervisor (19 episodes, 1990-1991)
Leslie Brodsky	....	technical consultant / technical advisor (14 episodes, 1990-1991)
Monica Melvin-Fratkin	....	production coordinator (13 episodes, 1990)
Mitchell E. Dauterive	....	production coordinator (13 episodes, 1991)
Deborah Joy LeVine	....	executive story consultant (13 episodes, 1991)
Bryce Zabel	....	executive story consultant (13 episodes, 1991)
Michael R. Casey	....	location manager (12 episodes, 1990)
Gary DeGalla	....	location manager (12 episodes, 1991)
Roger Lowenstein	....	technical advisor (9 episodes, 1991)
Birgitte T. Hartford	....	assistant to producers (8 episodes, 1991)
Dee Johnson	....	assistant to producers (8 episodes, 1991)
Ginger Lyvere	....	assistant to producers (8 episodes, 1991)
Leslie Park	....	script supervisor (5 episodes, 1991)
Wendy Widlus	....	technical advisor (3 episodes, 1991)
Tari Susan Hartman	....	disability consultant (2 episodes, 1991)
Carol Sobel	....	technical advisor (2 episodes, 1991)
Alan J. Lam	....	production accountant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Thomas Carter Company (as The Thomas Carter Company)
• ABC Productions
• Orion Television Entertainment

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1990-1991) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Other Companies

• Castle/Bryant/Johnsen  main title logo design
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and opticals
• Meridian Studios  sound (as Mridian Studios, Inc.)
• Modern Sound  sound
• Modern VideoFilm  titles and opticals
• The Fricon Entertainment Company Inc.  music supervision
• Whittier College School of Law  law books

Also Known As:

Runtime:

60 min | USA:60 min (26 episodes) | USA:120 min (pilot) (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Thomas Carter Company

Soundtrack:

We Can Make It Over

Great Cast + Great Show + Low Ratings = Early Cancellation

I remember watching this show when it first aired and hoping it would stay on the air for a while. But despite having an impressive cast and great dramatic story lines, it only lasted about a season and a half. Unlike many quality shows that get canceled too soon and develop a cult following, I can tell by the lack of posts and comments that this show has largely been forgotten.

The biggest problem was that many people including critics unfairly dismissed it as nothing more than an "LA Law" ripoff. In my opinion, the only similarities were that both were legal dramas and had ensemble casts. "LA Law" had humorous elements and focused a lot on quirky or glamorous cases while "Equal Justice" was more serious and focused on tough topics like racism and gang violence. Another thing going against it was that back in the early 90s, series television was overloaded with courtroom dramas. With "L.A. Law","Matlock", "Civil Wars", and "Law & Order", to name a few, all on the air, I don't think that viewers really could stomach another television courtroom.

Unfortunately, with the lack of quality programs on television today, a show like this would be a welcome addition especially on a network like ABC. You can check out a few episodes that are available on Hulu.com (hopefully they will add more in the future). Take notice of the great cast which includes Sarah Jessica Parker, Joe Morton, Jane Kaczmarek and a Christian Bale lookalike named Cotter Smith.