You’ve seen the commercials. You’ve heard the hype. Now there’s only one thing you want to know: Which of the new fall shows are worth watching and which should be avoided at all costs? In this continuing series, we give you the scoop on some of the most highly-anticipated shows of the season, with today’s focus falling on THE DEFENDERS.
The Boilerplate: Since these pilot presentations may go through numerous rewrites and casting changes prior to premiere, this by no means should be considered an official review. Rather a preview of what one can expect come Fall.
The Elevator Pitch: LAS VEGAS LEGAL
The Plot: From the executive producer of CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION comes an irreverent new legal drama about two fiery and charismatic Las Vegas defense attorneys. Tenacious, defiant and completely engaging, they argue the law, and they follow the law, but they always keep a few tricks up their sleeves. No matter what the odds, these lawyers keep fighting for the little guy.
The Snap Judgment: Much to our surprise shock, the one-two punch of Jim Belushi (ACCORDING TO JIM) and Jerry O’Connell (CARPOOLERS, DO NOT DISTURB) did not in fact trigger a primetime apocalypse. But rather, added up to one of the most surprisingly watchable procedurals CBS has offered up in recent memory. For as it turns out, when “The Defenders” aren’t busy attempting to rebuild their crumbling marriage (in the case of Belushi’s Nick) or sleeping with everything that moves (in the case of O’Connell’s Pete), the namesakes of Morelli & Kaczmarek LLP can be found passionately (and we should mention, very cleverly) fighting for the downtrodden denizens of Las Vegas. A fight made all the more entertaining thanks to the collection of colorful character that Pete and Nick have chosen to surround themselves with, including: Their newest associate, stripper turned lawyer Lisa Tyler (Jurnee Smollett), DA Meredith Cramer (DIRTY SEXY MONEY’s Natalie Zea) and Sophie (Tanya Fischer), who in the grand tradition of small screen secretaries manages to inject some much-needed levity into even the most serious of moments.
The Verdict: Were we the betting type, it’d be pretty darn tempting to go “all in” on THE DEFENDERS, a sure thing if ever we saw one. 
