Kara Sears
The American legal drama television series Bluff City Law aired on NBC from September 23 to November 25, 2019, and was cancelled after one season. The show revolves around a law firm led by attorney Elijah Strait (Jimmy Smits) and his daughter, Sydney Strait (Caitlin McGee). The show depicts the pair taking on controversial civil rights cases, including taking on a chemical company whose product may cause cancer, and helping a Catholic teacher who is fired from her school after undergoing IVF treatment. While the show received mixed reviews, with criticism levelled at its legal accuracy, it was praised for its portrayal of Memphis, Tennessee, as a character in its own right.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Show name | Bluff City Law |
| Type | Legal drama television series |
| Creators | Dean Georgaris and Michael Aguilar |
| Network | NBC |
| Airing time | September 23 to November 25, 2019 |
| Number of episodes | 10 |
| Setting | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Plot | A law firm led by attorney Elijah Strait and his daughter, Sydney, handling controversial civil rights cases |
| Cast | Jimmy Smits, Caitlin McGee, Barry Sloane |
| Reception | Mixed reviews, with a 38% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 44/100 |
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What You'll Learn
Sydney and Elijah take on a chemical company
In the pilot episode of Bluff City Law, top corporate attorney Sydney Strait (Caitlin McGee) decides to put aside her differences with her father, Elijah Strait (Jimmy Smits), and rejoins his civil rights firm in Memphis, Tennessee.
Sydney's return to her father's firm follows a family tragedy. She had previously left the firm due to tensions with her father, who is regarded as one of the most accomplished litigators of his generation. Despite their differences, Sydney and Elijah work together to take on controversial civil rights cases, with Sydney's expertise as a former corporate attorney proving valuable.
The series depicts the complex dynamics between Sydney and Elijah, including secrets and conflicts that emerge as they work together. The show explores how Sydney navigates her new role at the firm while dealing with the aftermath of her personal loss and the challenges of working with her estranged father.
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The firm defends a teacher fired after IVF treatment
In 2012, a Catholic school teacher, Emily Herx, sued the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, alleging that she was fired for undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. The case received media attention and sparked discussions around religious institutions' rights and employment discrimination.
Herx filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, arguing that the diocese discriminated against her based on sex, pregnancy, and disability. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled in Herx's favour. However, the diocese denied any discrimination, stating that their decision was based on their religious beliefs and that they have the right to make religious-based decisions consistent with their religious standards.
The case brought to light the tension between an individual's right to access certain medical treatments and the religious freedoms of religious employers. The Catholic Church has stated its opposition to IVF, promoting other infertility treatments that align with its teachings.
The lawsuit by Herx proceeded to trial, with a federal judge ruling that she deserved the chance to prove that her termination was based on sex discrimination. However, the judge denied Herx's claim that she was fired due to her infertility rather than the treatment itself, which is forbidden by the Catholic Church. The outcome of the trial is unknown, and it is unclear if there was a resolution or a settlement reached between the parties.
While the case on Bluff City Law may be fictional, it is not far from reality, as real-life cases like that of Emily Herx have brought similar issues to light, highlighting the complexities of civil rights, discrimination, and religious freedoms.
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The show was filmed in Memphis, Tennessee
The show Bluff City Law was indeed filmed in Memphis, Tennessee. The show is set in Memphis and revolves around the Strait and Associates Law Firm, led by founder Elijah Strait, a legendary civil rights lawyer. The pilot episode was filmed inside an undisclosed location in East Memphis, with a faux federal courtroom constructed inside.
The show features many iconic Memphis locations, including the Hernando de Soto Bridge across the Mississippi River, a mansion in East Memphis, and the Shelby County Courthouse in the Lauderdale Courts neighbourhood. The blues club Rum Boogie Cafe on Beale Street was also featured in the pilot episode. The Strait and Associates headquarters are located in the heart of Downtown Memphis, at the corner of S Front St & Doctor Martin Luther King Jr Avenue.
Filming in Memphis was important to the cast and crew of Bluff City Law, as they felt that the authenticity of the show relied on it being set in Memphis. The show also provided a boost to the local economy, with hundreds of jobs for film production crews and increased revenues for local businesses. Memphis Tourism president Kevin Kane expressed his hope that the show would attract more visitors to the city, in the same way that the show Nashville boosted its namesake city's tourism.
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The series was cancelled after one season
The American legal drama television series Bluff City Law was cancelled after one season. The series aired on NBC from September 23 to November 25, 2019, and its cancellation was announced in June 2020.
The show revolved around a law firm led by attorney Elijah Strait (played by Jimmy Smits) and his daughter, Sydney Strait (played by Caitlin McGee). The firm took on controversial civil rights cases. The series was created by Dean Georgaris and Michael Aguilar, and an initial 10 episodes were ordered. NBC later ordered six additional scripts, bringing the total script order to 16.
Despite its high-profile cast and creative team, Bluff City Law received mixed reviews from critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 38% approval rating, while Metacritic assigned a score of 44 out of 100, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Some viewers criticized the writing and legal accuracy of the show, while others praised the performance of Jimmy Smits. The show's cancellation after one season was likely due to a combination of factors, including critical reception and viewership numbers.
Although the series had its fans, the chances of the show returning for a second season were slim, as confirmed by a Peacock insider to TVLine. The decision to cancel the show may have been influenced by various factors, including the production schedule, network priorities, and the availability of the cast and crew.
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The show received mixed reviews
The American legal drama television series Bluff City Law received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. The show, created by Dean Georgaris and Michael Aguilar, aired on NBC for one season from September 23 to November 25, 2019. While some viewers enjoyed the show, it was also met with criticism for its writing and legal accuracy.
Review aggregator websites like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic gave Bluff City Law mixed scores. Rotten Tomatoes reported a 38% approval rating with an average rating of 6.62/10, based on 13 reviews. The website's critical consensus acknowledged that the show's procedural proceedings felt outdated but noted that fans of the lead actors, Jimmy Smits and Caitlin McGee, might still enjoy it. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a slightly higher score of 44 out of 100 based on 7 critics, also indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Online comments from viewers provide further insight into the mixed reception. Some viewers expressed their enjoyment of the show, praising it as a "great show" and complimenting the acting, particularly that of Jimmy Smits. One viewer specifically mentioned liking the show despite its writing flaws. However, others criticized the writing, character development, and legal accuracy of the show. One viewer commented that the show lacked sufficient background on the characters, making it hard to invest in their stories. Another viewer, claiming to be a lawyer, pointed out the unrealistic legal plots, citing a specific example that disregarded First Amendment rights.
The show's cancellation after one season suggests that it failed to garner the widespread enthusiasm and viewership needed to continue. While it had its supporters, particularly among those proud to see Memphis featured prominently, Bluff City Law ultimately could not sustain a long-term run on network television.
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Frequently asked questions
Bluff City Law is an American legal drama television series that aired from September 23 to November 25, 2019, on NBC.
Bluff City Law was created by Dean Georgaris and Michael Aguilar.
The series starred Jimmy Smits and Caitlin McGee as father and daughter lawyers, Elijah and Sydney Strait.
Cases on Bluff City Law included taking on a chemical company whose product may have caused cancer, helping a group of farmers who were being taken advantage of by a corporation, and getting political asylum for a journalist.
