NBC didn't make it any easier for me to cheer them on when they gave the keys of the kingdom to Jay Leno and he ran his 3,006 unfunny cars through every promotional stoplight possible before committing a hit and run of unfunny to America's soul every weeknight at 10/9C. But here's how they can make it up to me and get me back on their side. Give this pilot a chance:
Popular British actor David Tennant, best known for playing the title role in the BBC's long-running sci-fi series "Doctor Who," is set to make his American television debut as the title character in NBC's hour-long pilot "Rex Is Not Your Lawyer."
The comedic legal drama centers on a top Chicago litigator (Tennant) who begins suffering panic attacks and takes up coaching clients to represent themselves in court.
NBC green lighted the project in August, about two years after it was first developed, and had been trying to find a lead actor for several months until Tennant came along and nailed the part.Though I'd heard about this pilot somewhere (which is one of those weird and wonderful things about reading too much on the Internet -- you can feel like a Hollywood insider even though you're so totally not) and found the premise potentially too gimmicky, it sounds perfectly suited to Tennant's many charms.
And though we all know the production of television shows featuring "top Chicago" anyones aren't based in Chicago, the idea that they might do some exterior scenes every once and a while (like ER used to) and that Tennant might be a part of them.... let's just say I've got my stalking shoes ready.
But of course, NBC has to pick it up first. But if they want to save their network, they could do much worse. There's nobody better suited to save history than a Time Lord