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'The Good Wife': Michael J. Fox's Louis Canning is back with a vengeance
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It's old home week on "The Good Wife" - Louis Canning, Jonas Stern, Judge Abernathy ... and that gross rat video. Yuck.Case of the Week
Jonas Stern is back and representing an internet company that had a rash of employee suicides. Lockhart/Gardner is going after the class-action lawsuit on behalf of the families of the deceased and other employees. There is a video of one employee hanging himself in his cubicle.
But Stern up and dies, so our good friend Louis Canning takes over. Not just that case, the entire firm. Delightfully, Judge Abernathy is also back (Denis O'Hare) for the class-action internet/suicide case. His Mr. Rogers schtick in his chambers is particularly wonderful.
The surveillance video of the hanging is disallowed, Canning objects on grounds of just being used to inflame the jury. But Kalinda finds some hidden financials where the internet company paid an HR consultant to tell them how to fire people, basically. But (dun dun dun) the company also told them how to save more money - make them so miserable they quit, which is Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, which is an intentional tort (as opposed to a negligence tort). It means the firm can go for punitive damages, not just compensatory damages. Compensatory is compensating the victims' families for the victims' actual worth (like what the employees would have earned over a lifetime). Punitive damages are designed to discourage the company (or other companies) from behaving in the manner in question because the costs are so high. Punitive damages must have malice or intent to be awarded.
Back in court, Will goes after Kim Palmieri, the CEO of the company. On her cross by Louis, she argues she was keeping jobs in America by demanding a lot from her employees so they aren't forced to send them overseas.
Canning gets a lift home from Alicia because he wants to offer her a job - with a fast track to a partnership and double her salary. She politely declines, but her interest is piqued.
In the case, they now get to admit the surveillance video into evidence because they're going for IIED. Canning goes after the surveillance widow hard - she had a one-time affair, plus her husband was on an anti-depressant Elvatil. Remember Elvatil? Canning defended its maker against Alicia in the class-action lawsuit from November. He trots out that horrible mice video (why do we need to see that again, hmm?) Talk about your chickens coming home to roost.
There's one employee, Karen Jennings, who has chosen not to be a party to the class-action suit. Kalinda talks to her and it turns out Karen advised him not to take the Elvatil because of the side effects. But she's been hushed up by the company for uncovering the executives' raiding the pension fund fraud. They were cutting workers to help juggle the books from the money they embezzled.
This new kettle of fish is now a RICO case (the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act), which basically enforces stiffer criminal and civil penalties for ongoing organized crime, which does not just include the mafia. This ongoing executive fraud, cover up and intentional infliction of emotional distress all go into a RICO charge.
But under RICO, the government seizes the company's assets, which means the Lockhart & Gardner plaintiffs receive no compensation. So instead, Will starts to put Karen Jennings on the stand - and the CEO settles faster than you can spit. Canning makes another try at poaching Alicia, this time complimenting her smarts and skills. She still declines.
The Campaign
There's a DCCC suit, charging Wendy Scott Carr with a lack of residency status for her husband. Eli is furious because it gives Wendy an issue, makes her look like she's not The Man, but Peter is. And not "the man" in the good way.
A reporter named Petra Moritz gets the background info about Peter and Kalinda. She wants Mrs. Florrick on the phone or she runs with what she has about Peter not eschewing his "bimbo" ways. Eli runs Petra's rumor by Alicia, telling her they are ruined if Petra just runs with the story. Alicia agrees to speak with her.
The conversation doesn't go that well - but Eli very adorably jumps to Alicia's defense.
The Affairs
Tammy gets an offer to go to London and cover the Olympics, starting in two weeks. She says she's going - because Will can't man up to say whether she should stay or go. In the end, he asks her to stay and now they don't know what to do because it's a big opportunity.
Meanwhile, Andrew Wiley (the SA's office investigator) knows there are missing pages from Blake's last interview and Childs thinks Matan is hiding them on purpose. Matan says he talked to Cary about the missing pages, but Cary says he doesn't know a thing.
Cary confronts Matan and finds out about the affair. He knows he needs to tell Wiley to back off without making him so suspicious he goes to Childs anyway. He confronts Kalinda about it and tells her to be upfront with Alicia. But he goes to Wiley and asks him to show discretion about the missing interview pages because it's personal, not criminal.
Wiley knows Cary is protecting Kalinda and storms off, without confirming for us if he's going to tell Childs or not.
Thoughts & Tidbits
- Michael J. Fox is so great on this show. Is it too much to hope for that since he has taken over Stern's firm that we'll see him several times every season? We hope so.
- Is everything coming to a head next week? It looks like the election is here. Interesting, we figured they'd draw that out until May sweeps.
- The Alicia-Eli relationship on the show continues to be one of our favorites. There's such nice mutual respect, wariness and cautious affection.
- The recall on this show continues to amaze and delight. The reappearance of judges and attorneys makes it seem like a real legal community in a city, which is smaller than one might think. And the reappearance of Elvatil? Brilliant.
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So happy to see MJF on screen!! Spin City fell apart without him. I refuse to watch it after he left. Truly, one of the few actors to admire.
Did anyone else giggle with glee when the flashed to Eli strangling the head of the DCCC. It was so completely over the top and only Alan ******* could pull that off.
I find MJF a distraction from the show. I wind up feeling sorry for him, wondering if he needs the money... how many takes did it take for him to get his lines right. These are things that distract me from the story at hand. The first two times He was on the show I turned it off because I thought it was like a PBS special where they were going to ask for donations in the middle of the show. I guess it was a ratings boost because he is back. But It makes Me uncomfortable... like **** Clark on News Years Eve. OK lets here it from all the folks that now hate me for having a cold heart. Sorry I use TV as an escape from some harsh realities. Gasp... I have my own medical issues, be kind!
I love MJF on this show as well. I don't find him a distraction. I'm just thrilled to have him back on the TV. He has alot of courage coming on with his disease and shows that you can have a productive life, despite having a serious disease.
MJF plays such a delightful "villain" on the show that I look forward to him popping up and stirring up trouble for the cast. I like that they added his disability to the show--why ignore it when you can use it to show that he's still a better lawyer than most of the highly qualified people on the show.
If only Thomas F. Wilson (the guy who played Biff Tannen) could join MJF as that law firm's investigator. That would be awesome!
Why do you think that MJF is on the show because he needs money? Maybe he just likes the challenge or is bored. Maybe he just didn't want to be completely retired and he likes the idea of playing a villain, instead of a nice guy?
I rarely make a post that's critical of word usage, because that's not why I read these columns, I read them because they're very entertaining and some times point out things I missed. However, since the writer used "class action lawsuit" several times in this article, I have to post this, because it's incorrect and as a lawyer, it bugs me every time I see it or hear it. An action is a lawsuit, so it's a class action period, no lawsuit after it because that is redundant. Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest.
I put together many postings from brilliant young American women and put them below; best expresses America’s attitudes towards “The Good Wife” on CBS. And why I personally have a lot of hope for a bright future for America.
Looks like CBS “The Good Wife” will be canceled. Last week they had an 18 – 49 rating of 1.9 and this week 2.0 that is sure cancellation territory on CBS. Even using the gimmick of using Michael J Fox to as a guest star this week, they still cannot draw 18 – 49 viewers.
Those that said that NBC “Parenthood” will be canceled next year will be proved right 1.8 last week and 1.9 this week in the 18 – 49 demo, combined with the heavy expenses to produce this show will get it canceled.
CBS “The Good Wife” had a lead in CBS NCIS: Los Angeles rerun with an 18 – 49 rating of 2.7 this week, This proves “The Good Wife” is WASTING the NCIS: LA lead-in. If it gets no benefit from the show doing a 3.5 last week and a 2.7 this week, “The Good Wife” has no business getting such a primo spot on the schedule. Look for CBS for Cancellation of “The Good Wife”
“The Good Wife” last two weeks ratings 1.9 and 2.0 in 18-49 ratings is a failure on any network. Advertisers love the 18-49 demo, anything else is fluff. The 18-49 demo determines what the show can charge for commercials. If you look at what programs get renewed it is all about the 18-49 demo. Networks are in the business to make money, you take the advertising money plus syndication money (which “the good wife” will not make money on) and subtract the cost to make the show = profit. Networks want profit.
“The Good Wife” has a lot of viewers but they are very OLD viewers and they do not spend money on products. The 18-49 demo makes shows like the ones on NBC Thursday Night Comedies that have very low total viewers but a high amount of 18-49 viewers profitable and they get renewed.
CBS “The Good Wife” last two weeks ratings 1.9 and 2.0 18-49 ratings is a failure on any network. The Good Wife 18-49 ratings have been dropping since its first year; as they are at the end of their second season and CBS “The Good Wife” 18-49 are still dropping, and CBS needs room in its schedule for new shows they want to add, look for CBS cancellation of “The Good Wife”
@ whywatch You are right: “Another great episode about the Civil War on PBS“ This is a reason that ABC “Dancing With The Stars” and “Body of Proof” numbers were down last night. A lot of intelligent viewers switched for one night to watch “The Civil War” on PBS. “The Good Wife” on CBS does not have any intelligent viewers so it did not hurt them. Also CBS “The Good Wife” viewers are promoting racism and hatred so they would not want to watch a documentary about “The Civil War” on PBS. From President Abe Lincoln, to President John Kennedy, to President Ronald Reagan, to President Bill Clinton, to President George Bush, to President Barrack Obama, and all Presidents since Abe Lincoln – they all tied to stop racism and hatred. And “The Good Wife” on CBS is all about promoting Racism and Hatred.
Julia was right in her prediction two weeks ago. Her comments below
I also predict that "The Good Wife" will drop in viewers and ratings from here on out, then eventually be canceled. Only racists who like to watch poorly written daytime soap operas will watch this show now. Stop watching “The Good Wife” Lets stomp out Hatred and Bigotry!
They should rename “The Good Wife” to “Alicia and her unbelievable amount of tragedies one after another” or “The most racist program on television”. Wow has the writing on this show completely ruined a great show.
Everyone knows that Chris Noth (Peter Florrick) is not under contract with “The Good Wife” and is starring in This Championship Season on Broadway. Notice he was not in the last episode, and was not around much this year. So Alicia will be single soon. So sad the writers had to write Peter off the show by having him have an affair with Kalinda, wasn’t Peter sleeping with prostitutes enough? and having him become a racist, and having him turn away from his minister., Very poor writing, people will not watch a show with such a poor script.
Having Kalinda have an affair with Peter was also unfair to the Kalinda character. She was likeable and had so much depth before they added this gimmick.
Since Glen Childs dropped out of the campaign he will use the Kalinda and Peter’s affair to derail Peter’s campaign. Since Kalinda and Alicia are BFF this will cause more drama for Alicia, she will have to work with Kalinda who slept with her husband, she will have to deal with her BFF in like forever, sleeping with her husband, and she will run into the arms of Will (her boss) which she has wanted to do forever. Wow, “The Good Wife” now is a bad daytime soap that ran too long and ran out of good writing.
And I agree that the writers of this show are very racists by portraying any featured black male as a gangsters, drug dealers, or having ties to organized crime. How sad, this is a reason to stop watching “The Good Wife” alone.
Also the writers were very racists by saying that all soccer moms and the middle class blue collar white voters in Illinois are racists. By doing that they showed they are the true racists. Really the state that has U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun, and U.S. Senator and current U.S. President Barack Obama? Really the writers went there, how absolutely disgusting “The Good Wife” went there. “The Good Wife” has offended all Americans in one show. Shame on you!
Also I agree with Tyrone – “
Racist quotes like "The Florrick kids just really love black people." on a network show is unbelievable. Then the racist quotes against people who skin color is white does not balance it out. It just shows “The Good Wife” is very racist and promotes racism. If you dislike Racism, stop watching “The Good Wife”, stop buying the products of its sponsors Martin Luther King Jr one of his most famous quotes: "I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
The Sisters at my Sorority and other Sororities across the world have stopped watching “The Good Wife”. We want to stomp out Racism and Hatred, and one way is to stop watching “The Good Wife” on CBS with all its Racism and Hatred.
Luckily we now have “Body of Proof to watch instead (a great show with strong women Yea!) “Body of Proof” parties – I’m loving it!
We agree with poster from that wrote:
Hey you “The Good Wife” fans.
By supporting this racist and hatred filled Television program makes you no different than the members of the KKK, the Nazis, or Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan defending Libyan strongman Moammar Khadafy.
Everyone knows CBS “The Good Wife promotes Racism, Bigotry and Hatred.
I think Suzi said it best:
The Sisters at my Sorority and other Sororities across the world have stopped watching “The Good Wife”. We want to stomp out Racism and Hatred, and one way is to stop watching “The Good Wife” on CBS with all its Racism and Hatred.
Luckily we now have “Body of Proof to watch instead (a great show with strong women Yea!) “Body of Proof” parties – I’m loving it!
We agree with poster from that wrote:
Racism and Hatred are WRONG, even if it is disguised as humor, even if it is disguised as Art, even it is disguised as entertainment, Racism and Hatred are WRONG.
“The Good Wife” on CBS is all Racism and Hatred and is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.
And the people who defend this show or watch this show are defending Racism and Hatred.
The people who watch ““The Good Wife” on CBS are encouraging Racism and Hatred
“The Good Wife” on CBS is all Racism and Hatred
“The Good Wife" fans CBS “The Good Wife” it’s just not for racists, bigots and hate mongers, it is also for drunken fools who mix moonshine and meds!
And it’s Also for Perverts.
It also a great show for Perverts. The old man Eli trying to get young student illegal nanny Natalie Flores in a sexual relationship. Using his power to stop her from being deported, and then trying to get her in a relationship is right out of the pervert handbook. Ewww, Uckkkk
Spoiler: in an upcoming CBS “The Good Wife” Chris Hansen from NBC “To Catch a Predator” will bust the pervert Eli trying to have a sexual relationship with young student illegal nanny Natalie.
Eli has it all: he is a racist, “Racial Cleansing” of the campaign; he is a religious hater getting rid Peters minister, he is all about hatred, and he is a perverted old man.
It takes a lot of writers who are racists, religious haters, all about hatred, and have deep seeded perverted issues, to come up with these scripts.