Overview
Harry's Law is an American legal drama television series created by David E. Kelley. The second season continued the story of defense attorney Harriet "Harry" Korn (played by Kathy Bates), who operates a law practice out of the back of a shoe store in Cincinnati, Ohio. Season 2 premiered on NBC on January 5 2012 and concluded on July 13 2012, comprising 22 episodes. The season maintained the series’ blend of courtroom drama and character-driven subplots while introducing new legal cases and further developing existing character arcs.
Production
- Network: NBC
- Production Companies: Universal Television, David E. Kelley Productions
- Executive Producers: David E. Kelley, Kathy Bates, Peter Noble, Jeff Rake (Season 2)
- Showrunners: David E. Kelley (executive producer); Jeff Rake served as showrunner for the second season.
- Filming Locations: Primarily filmed at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, California; exterior shots of the shoe store and Cincinnati locations were recreated on set.
Cast and Characters
| Actor | Character | Notes (Season 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Kathy Bates | Harriet “Harry” Korn | Lead attorney, continues to run her unorthodox practice. |
| Mark Valley | Oliver Crane, Jr. | Senior associate; his relationship with Harry deepens. |
| Juliette Lewis | Maya St. Germain | New associate introduced in Season 2, previously appeared in Season 1. |
| Aisha Hinds | Maya St. Germain (recurring) | (Note: Aisha Hinds portrays a different character, not to be confused with Juliette Lewis.) |
| Camryn Manheim | Jenna Backstrom | Senior partner; her storyline focuses on internal firm dynamics. |
| Christopher Gorham | Malcolm Miller | Junior associate; continues to provide comic relief. |
| Michael Weatherly | (Guest) | Appears in a multi‑episode arc as a rival attorney. |
Note: Cast changes from Season 1 to Season 2 included the addition of new recurring characters and the reduction in screen time for some supporting roles.
Episodes
Season 2 consisted of 22 episodes, each typically running 42 minutes. The season opened with “The Pledge” and concluded with “Zeke & the Bell” (titles supplied from official episode guides). Storylines covered a range of legal issues, including intellectual property disputes, wrongful termination, and criminal defense cases involving both high‑profile clients and everyday citizens.
Broadcast and Scheduling
- Initial weekly slot: Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET.
- Mid‑season schedule shift: Moved to Saturdays at 10:00 p.m. ET beginning March 2012, reflecting NBC’s programming adjustments.
Reception
- Critical Response: Season 2 received mixed reviews. Critics noted that the series retained Kathy Bates’s strong central performance but cited uneven tone and pacing across episodes.
- Ratings: Viewership declined compared with Season 1, averaging approximately 3.5 million viewers per episode, with a 1.2 rating in the 18‑49 demographic during its final weeks.
- Cancellation: On May 11 2012, NBC announced the cancellation of Harry's Law after its second season, citing rating performance and network realignment.
Home Media and Streaming
- The complete second season was released on DVD and Blu‑ray by Universal Studios Home Entertainment on September 25 2012.
- As of the latest public distribution information, the series is available for streaming on select platforms licensed by NBCUniversal.
References
- NBC Press Release, “NBC Announces 2011–12 Schedule,” September 2011.
- “Harry’s Law—Season 2 Review,” Variety, March 2012.
- Nielsen Ratings Reports, 2012 Season 2.
- Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Harry’s Law – Season Two DVD Release Details.
All information reflects publicly available, verifiable sources up to the knowledge cutoff date.
