LA Law, please don’t take my Gen X card!

I think NBC jokingly reused the elevator for Friends to explain what happened to Joey's steady job on Days on Our Lives after he insulted the writers.

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Literally the only plot point I know about L.A. Law, because they talked about it on the podcast Extra Hot Great. I was almost 13 when the show started, but I was still only interested in sitcoms back then. (It probably came on past my bedtime, too -- overprotective parents.)

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Criseyde2112@reddit

Always thinking about the elevator.

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Maryland_Bear@reddit

I remember the TV Guide listing for that episode closed with something like, “>!and a major character gets the shaft!<“.

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tomNJUSA@reddit

Yup, first thought.

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Klutzy_Prior@reddit (OP)

That seems very “tell him about the Twinkie”

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Leecypoo@reddit

I didn’t really watch it regularly, but limited TV choices as they were, I did see that one and it’s all I think about when someone says “LA Law” !

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Mysterious-Dealer649@reddit

Never seen an episode. Looked it up didn’t start til 86, so started beginning of my junior year in hs, had just got my dl, wasn’t home much at all til 10 o’clock or whatever

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Maryland_Bear@reddit

During the fifth season, some of the original cast departs and are replaced with new characters. It’s hard to specify an exact moment, but I think a lot of fans would say that’s when the series began to go downhill.

If you’re a fan of The West Wing, John Spencer, who played Leo McGarry on that series, joins the cast of LA Law as one of the new attorneys.

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tr1nn3rs@reddit

Agreed. Spencer is great but by the time of the LA riots in season 6 it's unwatchable.

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LodossDX@reddit

LA Law feels more like a boomer show than Gen X. Maybe older Gen X watched it since they’d be in their 20s then. But yes, at a certain point it goes downhill like most 80s/90s dramas. My advice though is try to at least make it to season 5 episode 16. Probably the most notorious episode of the show.

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totallyjaded@reddit

Maybe early Gen X?

I don't remember anyone ever talking about last night's episode of LA Law at school.

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MyriVerse2@reddit

Kids who crushed on Susan Dey were delighted to see her all grown up.

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tomNJUSA@reddit

Old GexX here can confirm. My then girlfriend, now wife loved it and 5/16 was...

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Pedals17@reddit

I just started high school when it came out. What I remembered were soapy relationships paired with topical episodes. It WAS a little TOO idealistic, The Practice a decade later was a hard course correction. I liked Amanda Donohoe & Conchata Ferrell’s characters!

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Ianthin1@reddit

Like, just watch the show and don't worry about what others think.

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MyriVerse2@reddit

IMO, the first 4 seasons are great, the 5th season is a mix, and then the final season gets great again. Seasons 6-7 aren't good.

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Criseyde2112@reddit

If you're wondering, the license plate in the credits is on a Jaguar. I'm not sure if they specified the model, but I remember reading that it was a Jag.

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MrsByrne80@reddit

You mean your Mum didn’t forbid you to speak for the entire hour it was on each and every Thursday? I was around 7 when it premiered, all I remember is Harry Hamlin seemed to be all the rage back then.

I definitely think it would be interesting to watch now. Just to see how certain things held up?

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TheOtherElbieKay@reddit

My mom did this too. I thought it was really dumb.

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Klutzy_Prior@reddit (OP)

Certain things are not holding up well, but I’m still in the Harry Hamlin era.

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tardisrider613@reddit

Crazy idea here, but watch what you want to watch and if at some point you don't like it, stop watching. You don't need other people to tell you.

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Reachforthesky777@reddit

Loads of people never watched LA Law. I personally could never stand those law shows and never watched any of them. Same with the medical drama shows.

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NVJAC@reddit

I've never watched it either. Hell, I never watched Miami Vice.

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Klutzy_Prior@reddit (OP)

That’s next in my list.

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MishtotheMitt@reddit

If you want the cliff notes version, watch the video for Glenn Frey’s smuggler’s blues.

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bcrock02@reddit

Is Miami Vice streaming anywhere now?

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Klutzy_Prior@reddit (OP)

It’s on Tubi, but there will be a lot of commercials.

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ScarletDarkstar@reddit

Like when it aired! Authentic experience.

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Reasonable-HB678@reddit

I only got to watch episodes of LA Law through reruns on cable. That was a show after my bedtime through most of its run in primetime. Don't be hard on yourself, you're not the only one.

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docsiege@reddit

i freaking loved that show. my mom and i watched it together.

it's a great first 3 seasons, then it kinda becomes a parody of itself. but it's great 80s soap opera, and fun to revisit issues that are no longer issues OR we're still fighting over.

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Any_Pudding_1812@reddit

i only remember one episode about a bloke that smuggled cane toads so he could lick them. or something

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susannahstar2000@reddit

It was an excellent show for a long time. By the end it was horrible.

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Fotmasta@reddit

The Butterfly move

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Klutzy_Prior@reddit (OP)

Apparently they’ve been married in real life for 50 years!

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pmac109@reddit

I stopped watching it at a certain point (but don’t remember what it was). I’m pretty sure most of the cast leaves and it was just NOT the same

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Klutzy_Prior@reddit (OP)

Good to know, thank you.

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Appropriatelylazy@reddit

I liked it as a kinda cheesy indulgence. It's a little dated, but it's still the kind of TV i love sitting around in my pajamas on a Sunday to watch. 😂

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Klutzy_Prior@reddit (OP)

That’s where I’m at now, chilling and watching, but we’ve all watched so many shows with terrible endings.

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NotAtAllExciting@reddit

Follow through

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Klutzy_Prior@reddit (OP)

Thank you!

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EdenSilver113@reddit

I watched it with my sister. I was a little young for the first few seasons.

It held up pretty well. I think the last season or two weren’t as strong, but still enjoyable to watch.