Head Cases

Head Cases is an American primetime comedy-drama television program, best known as the first show cancelled for the 2005–2006 season. It was broadcast by Fox and premiered on September 14, 2005. It was cancelled after two episodes on September 22 after disastrous ratings and critical drubbing.

The program starred Chris O'Donnell as Jason Payne, who was a superstar attorney at a prestigious law firm until his career put a strain on his marriage. Eventually, Payne had a nervous breakdown and was sent to a "wellness center" where he recovered. Upon leaving the center, Payne's therapist "buddied him up" with another patient and lawyer, Russell Shultz (played by Adam Goldberg), who suffered from explosive disorder. As Payne's world continued to crumble around him, he found that his only friend seems to be Shultz. Ultimately, Payne and Shultz decided to open a law firm of their own.

O'Donnell, known more for his film work, was quoted in a TV Guide article about his reasons for trying a television series:

I'd been taking a break [from movies] when this script kind of fell in my lap. I read it and loved it. It's a terrific character, plus I couldn't be more excited to work with the cast that's been put together.

I've got three kids, and my oldest is starting kindergarten, so the idea of being in one place was very appealing to me.

The program was created by Bill Chais, who along with Barry Josephson and Jeff Rake served as executive producers.

Cast

• Chris O’Donnell - Jason Payne
• Adam Goldberg - Russell Shultz
• Krista Allen - Laurie Payne
• Jake Cherry - Ryan Payne
• Richard Kind - Lou Albertini (a late addition to the cast)
• Rockmond Dunbar - Dr. Robinson
• Rhea Seehorn - Nicole Walker

Rachael Leigh Cook was also a cast member, but her role was eliminated after the pilot.

Reception

The show placed fourth in the ratings in its first week against an all-rerun competition. Its second week was even worse against season premieres on the other networks, including Lost and America's Next Top Model. It only outrated a rerun of the pilot episode for the since-cancelled Just Legal on The WB.

Tom Shales of the Washington Post began his review of the pilot as follows:

"Sometimes bad things just happen, and it's nobody's fault," says one of the characters in Head Cases, a new Fox courtroom drama. Unfortunately that sounds an awful lot like the producer of the show attempting to let himself off the hook.

What's sad is that Head Cases, unlike the previous Fox series that have already made their premieres, has real promise and potential, especially in the character of young lawyer Jason Payne, as earnest Chris O'Donnell plays him.

The USA Today review was less kind:

Some shows just make you want to head in the opposite direction. With Head Cases, the driving-away force is equal parts concept and cast. You'd be unlikely to rush toward any show about two recently institutionalized lawyers, forced into partnership by therapist blackmail. But Fox doesn't help its case by hiring Adam Goldberg and Chris O'Donnell, who seem ill-equipped to head this or any series, individually or collectively.

Episodes

1.01 - "Pilot"

Jason Payne is introduced as a successful, young attorney working for a well-respected firm. However, after his wife, Laurie, kicks him out of the house due to him not being a good husband and father, he suffers from a nervous breakdown. Payne then enlists for help in a mental institution. His doctor, Dr. Robinson, decides after two months there that Payne is stable enough to leave the center. On his release, however, Dr. Robinson buddies Payne up with Russell Shultz, another lawyer who suffers from explosive disorder.

Payne returns to his employer, only to find that he has been let go. To help Payne out, Shultz gives him a stack of cases that might need an attorney. Eventually, Payne is able to represent a lady who is getting a divorce from her husband. Coincidentally, his previous employer is representing the husband. Shultz also is involved in a case. His deals with a lady who has been fired from her employer due to her history of sleeping with various coworkers.

During the entire episode, Payne is irritated by Shultz and his actions. However, the episode ends with Payne and Shultz finally going into practice together.

1.02 - "S(elf) Help"

A former babysitter of Payne's son, Madeline Barton, comes to ask Jason for his help with her husband's case. Her husband, Ken, is a member of the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and has been charged with the arson of her father's, Al Girard, car dealership. Ken states, however, that he has been set up. Payne does not want to take the case, but Shultz does, and the duo ends up representing him. Eventually it is revealed that Madeline's mother, Barbara Girard, actually committed the crime because she (as well as her husband) did not approve of Madeline and Ken's marriage. Another motive for the arson was to pay off a bookie that Mr. Girard owed a large amount of money to. After they collected the insurance, Mrs. Girard felt the troubles with the bookie could be taken care of.

Also in this episode, Lou Albertini is introduced. He is a former successful attorney that Shultz knows. He is hired in as a paralegal, but takes on private investigator responsibilities as well. Payne also talks with his former secretary, Nicole Walker, about coming to work for him at his new practice. At first she refuses, but later agrees to join.

External links

• Head Cases at the Internet Movie Database
• Donnell, Goldberg Crazy for Head Cases, a TV Guide article