GRINDER, THE: PILOT {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The pilot of this comedy series about an actor who decides to join his family’s law firm after spending years portraying a lawyer on television.
Dean Sanderson Jr., an actor, and his family watch the finale of the television series that earned him stardom: “The Grinder,” in which he portrayed the title character, a lawyer. His family claims that they are quite impressed with him; many of them are real lawyers, although his younger brother Stewart can barely hide his feelings about the lack of realism and sincerity on “The Grinder.” Dean admits that he is unsure of what to do with his life now that the show has ended. Privately, Stewart is frustrated by his older brother’s attitude and his wife Debbie feels that Stewart believes he is marginalized by Dean’s success; he is staying in their house and is leaving soon. Dean confronts Stewart and claims that he feels his life is empty compared to Stewart since Stewart has a loving, supportive family and he does not. The next day, Stewart acts as a defense attorney during a preliminary hearing involving an eviction case, although he acts quite nervously about it and recommends to his clients that they reach a settlement. Dean, watching the entire thing, interjects during recess and offers advice, acting in a manner similar to his television persona. Stewart strongly cautions against this course of action, but everyone else agrees with Dean, excited that he is involved in the case and ignoring the fact that he is not a real lawyer.
Later, Dean and Stewart go out fishing with their father, also a lawyer, and decides that he feels greatly fulfilled by working as an actual lawyer instead of merely playing one on television. He believes that his years on the show qualify him for the job instead of going to law school, although Stewart strongly disagrees. Debbie believes that Dean means well and will likely set his sights elsewhere, but Dean informs them that he is studying for the bar exam and will be staying with them for a longer period of time, much to Stewart’s displeasure. He wishes to tell Dean in no uncertain terms that he needs to leave their house. Dean discovers that Ethan, Stewart and Debbie’s teenage son, has been taken advantage of by an upperclassman so that he can get closer to Lizzie, Stewart and Debbie’s daughter. He finds this unacceptable and confronts the boy, managing to negotiate him into giving Ethan a social boost among his classmates.
Stewart attempts to confront Dean to tell him to leave, but cannot bring himself to do it once he sees how enthusiastic Dean is about his newfound passion for real legal work. His involvement in the eviction case attracts a great deal of media attention. Dean discovers a stack of notecards upon which Stewart wrote his true feelings about Dean’s presence, making him quite upset. However, Stewart becomes equally upset when he learns about Dean’s handling of the situation with Ethan and Lizzie, and finally works up the courage to tell him to leave. Dean agrees, feeling hurt at Stewart’s comments. The next morning Stewart announces to the court that he had a fight with Dean and he will not be arriving in court, angering the gathered reporters and onlookers. Dean has a change of heart and decides to arrive in court, offering assistance to a floundering Stewart.
The prosecution objects to Dean’s presence but the judge, somewhat star-struck, allows him to act as an attorney. Dean puts the landlord in the case on the stand and goads him into revealing that he deliberately destroyed a rent check that the defendant gave him. This display earns him a round of applause, although the opposing attorney vehemently protests. The judge admits that he is correct and that none of his evidence is admissible. However, Stewart intervenes and cites legal precedents that could allow Dean’s cross-examination to be admitted into the trial, thus winning the case. Dean prepares to leave Stewart and his family, but Stewart has a change of heart and asks Dean to stay, leaving Dean overjoyed. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: FOX
- DATE: November 30, 1999 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:22:52
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 123982
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: TV - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: FOX - TV series, 2015-2016
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jake Kasdan … Executive Producer, Director
- Jarrad Paul … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Andrew Mogel … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Rob Lowe … Executive Producer
- Scott Silveri … Executive Producer
- Melvin Mar … Executive Producer
- Nicholas Stoller … Executive Producer
- Erin O'Malley … Co-Executive Producer
- Megan Mascena … Co-Producer
- Michael Andrews … Music by
- Rob Lowe … Cast, Dean Sanderson Jr.
- Fred Savage … Cast, Stewart Sanderson
- Mary Elizabeth Ellis … Cast, Debbie Sanderson
- Natalie Morales … Cast, Claire
- Hana Hayes … Cast, Lizzie Sanderson
- Connor Kalopsis … Cast, Ethan Sanderson
- William Devane … Cast, Dean Sanderson Sr.
- Steve Little … Cast, Todd
- Tonito Castro … Cast, Yolanda
- Odette Annable … Cast, Devin Stutz
- Rose Abdoo … Cast, Judge Stephanie Rossmyre
- Brian Huskey … Cast, Albert Krantz
- Melanie Liburd … Cast, Dr. Lagravenese
- Juan Carlos Cantu … Cast, Victor Ramirez
- Kumail Nanjiani … Cast, Prosecutor
- Gregg Daniel … Cast, Bartender
- John Lowe … Cast, Joel Zadak
- Chelsey Crisp … Cast, Reporter #1
- Ervin Ross … Cast, Paparazzo
- Courtney Richards … Cast, Fan