lawyers in love.

ive been dvr-ing an old favorite, l.a. law, on the americanlife tv network, every sunday night.

in my youth, the characters on this show might as well have been apostles. i mean, i wasnt only a fan of l.a. law; i revered it. i remember - after tammy m. had given me a watchman with a b&w lilliputian screen for my bar mitzvah - watching the show on it, underneath my covers, if my pops felt i was supposed to be in bed by then (my state-ordered bedtimes seemed to vacillate).

anyway, when i noticed americanlife was rerunning it, of course i had to get back on board.

unfortunately, although i still maintain that l.a. law was ahead of its time, much of the show now seems either dated or simply unwatchable. for instance, i fast-forward through anything involving abby, stuart, ann, benny and sometimes even arnold, who used to be my fave. many of the scenes with those cats look like they should be watched through hardened amber.

HOWEVER, the show still shines in many, many places, and the relationship between michael and grace is one of those areas. this has got to be one of the best tv romances of all time - highlighted by michael stealing grace away from her wedding while wearing - literally - an ape suit.

before that gem, though, there was the beginning of their romance. i saw this scene sunday night, and i thought it was so cleverly written that i knew id have to blog it:

INT. GRACE'S OFFICE - NIGHT

MICHAEL KUZAK, thirtiesish attractive defense lawyer, enters the office of thirtiesish attractive L.A. Assistant D.A., GRACE VAN OWEN.

GRACE
Mr. Kuzak. To what do I owe this pleasure?

MICHAEL
Well, I was in the neighborhood. I thought I'd drop by. This used to be my office.

GRACE
Really?

MICHAEL
Look, I don't know how you feel about stuff like this, but if we promise not to talk about work, would you like to get some dinner?

GRACE
Mr. Kuzak, I have three rules, two of which being I never date lawyers, and I never date anyone I work with.

MICHAEL
Well, what's number three?

GRACE
You already disqualified on one and two.

MICHAEL
Well, here's a hypothetical. If you and I were to take separate cars and meet up at Musso and Frank, would that constitute a date?

GRACE
Yes, definitely.

Grace begins to gather her belongings.

MICHAEL
(eager)
How about this. You and I. Musso and Frank. Separate cars. Dutch.

GRACE
A cheap date.

MICHAEL
(excited)
I go to Musso and Frank. I grab a seat at the counter. I'm sitting there eating my lamb chops when you happen to fall by for a house salad to go. 'Hey, nice to see ya. Sit down. Take a load off.' Now, you can't tell me that that's a date.

Grace is ready to leave the office.

GRACE
No, not to the strict letter of the law.

They enter the corridor, and start the walk to the elevator.

MICHAEL
So, you got a date tonite?

GRACE
No.

MICHAEL
Gotta eat.

GRACE
I thought maybe I'd grab a salad or something at Musso and Frank.

MICHAEL
Nice place - I go there myself now and again.

They stop at the elevator. Grace presses the button.

MICHAEL
So are you gonna tell me?

GRACE
What?

MICHAEL
Rule number three.

The elevator door opens. Grace and Michael walk into a packed car. As they walk in, so everyone in the elevator can hear it:

GRACE
I never sleep with a man on the first date

FADE OUT.