"Shark" (2006) TV series 2006-2008

Creator:

Ian Biederman

Seasons:

1 | 2 | unknown

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the courthouse.

Plot:

Title character Sebastian Stark is an L.A. hot-shot lawyer, who leaves his lucrative career as defender...

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | District Attorney | Court | Attorney | Trial

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations

Cast

James Woods	...	Sebastian Stark (38 episodes, 2006-2008)
Danielle Panabaker	...	Julie Stark (38 episodes, 2006-2008)
Sophina Brown	...	Raina Troy (38 episodes, 2006-2008)
Sarah Carter	...	Madeleine Poe (38 episodes, 2006-2008)
Jeri Ryan	...	Jessica Devlin (38 episodes, 2006-2008)
Vadim Mantelzak	...	John (33 episodes, 2006-2008)
Henry Simmons	...	Isaac Wright (32 episodes, 2006-2008)
Sam Page	...	Casey Woodland (22 episodes, 2006-2007)
Kevin Alejandro	...	Danny Reyes (16 episodes, 2007-2008)

Runtime:

Argentina:60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:M18 (season 1) | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:12 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

2315 Live Oaks Meadow Road, Malibu, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

Stark has three rules, which he refers to as his "Cutthroat Manifesto:" * "Trial is War. Second place is death." * "Truth is relative. Pick one that works." * "In a jury trial, there are only twelve opinions that matter and yours [speaking to his team] is not one of them."

Quotes:

Sebastian Stark: [a mock trial, Sebastian is proving to the team that a witness can lose composure on the stand] Ms. Troy, how old are you?
Raina Troy: Twenty-six.
Sebastian Stark: How many men have you had sex with?
Raina Troy: What?
Sebastian Stark: Your Honor?
Margaret: Witness will answer.
Raina Troy: I have no idea.
Sebastian Stark: Ten? Twenty? Am I getting warm?
Raina Troy: Maybe you keep a running tally, but I don't.
Sebastian Stark: Have you ever contracted a veneral disease?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "That Mitchell and Webb Look: (#2.2)" (2008)

Great character, great setup... great show?

The pilot for "Shark" was directed by Spike Lee. I honestly couldn't tell. There's nothing about it that is particularly cinematic or edgy.

But the premise is pretty neat. A highly paid, highly successful defense lawyer - James Woods - is forced into service on the other side of the barrister. He is now a district attorney for the state of California. Plus, he's asked to go after the same celebrities he used to defend.

So the episode plots of "Shark" could have it both ways - indulge in the scintillating glitz and seedy glamour of Hollywood while simultaneously bringing those sinners down every week. All with a great, snarky, brash anti-hero.

Unfortunately, the last third of the pilot started to get a little sappy and predictable (the main character begins to soften a little too quickly for my taste, no doubt helped by his unrealistically wise and aware daughter), but I still have hope.