L.A. Law is an American television legal drama series that ran for eight seasons on NBC from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it contained many of Bochco's trademark features including a large number of parallel storylines, social drama and off-the-wall humor. It reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s, and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot-topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights, homophobia, sexual harassment, AIDS, and domestic violence. The series often also reflected social tensions between the wealthy senior lawyer protagonists and their less well-paid junior staff. The show was popular with audiences and critics, and won 15 Emmy Awards throughout its run, four of which were for Outstanding Drama Series.
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The peak run. Top 40% of seasons by average rating — consecutive, with an average of 8.67.
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Corbin Bernsen
Arnie Becker
Jill Eikenberry
Ann Kelsey
Alan Rachins
Douglas Brackman
Michael Tucker
Stuart Markowitz
Blair Underwood
Jonathan Rollins
Larry Drake
Benny Stulwicz
John Spencer
Tommy Mullaney
A Martinez
Daniel Morales
Richard Dysart
Leland McKenzie
Alan Rosenberg
Eli Levinson
All 13 episodes plotted by IMDb rating
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22 episodes • 1986Avg: 8.7Golden Era
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot | Sep 15, 1986 | 8.0 |
| 2 | Those Lips, That Eye | Oct 3, 1986 | 0.0 |
| 3 | The House of the Rising Flan | Oct 10, 1986 | 0.0 |
| 4 | The Princess and the Wiener King | Oct 17, 1986 | 0.0 |
| 5 | Simian Chanted Evening | Oct 24, 1986 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Slum Enchanted Evening | Oct 31, 1986 | 0.0 |
| 7 | Raiders of the Lost Bark | Nov 7, 1986 | 0.0 |
| 8 | Gibbon Take | Nov 14, 1986 | 0.0 |
| 9 | The Venus Butterfly | Nov 21, 1986 | 0.0 |
| 10 | Fry Me to the Moon | Dec 4, 1986 | 0.0 |
| 11 | El Sid | Dec 11, 1986 | 0.0 |
| 12 | Sidney, the Dead-Nosed Reindeer | Dec 18, 1986 | 8.0 |
| 13 | Prince Kuzak in a Can | Jan 8, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 14 | The Douglas Fur Ball | Jan 15, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 15 | December Bribe | Jan 22, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 16 | Beef Jerky | Feb 5, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 17 | Becker on the Rox | Feb 12, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 18 | Fifty Ways to Floss Your Lover | Feb 19, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 19 | The Grace of Wrath | Feb 26, 1987 | 10.0 |
| 20 | Sparky Brackman, R.I.P. | Mar 26, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 21 | Oy Vey! Wilderness! | Apr 2, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 22 | Pigmalion | Apr 9, 1987 | 0.0 |
20 episodes • 1987Avg: 7.5
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Lung Goodbye | Oct 15, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 2 | The Wizard of Odds | Oct 22, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 3 | Cannon of Ethics | Oct 29, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 4 | Brackman Vasektimized | Nov 5, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 5 | The Brothers Grimm | Nov 12, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Auld L'Anxiety | Nov 19, 1987 | 7.0 |
| 7 | Rohner vs. Gradinger | Dec 3, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 8 | Goldilocks and the Three Barristers | Dec 10, 1987 | 0.0 |
| 9 | Divorce with Extreme Prejudice | Dec 17, 1987 | 8.0 |
| 10 | Full Marital Jacket | Jan 7, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 11 | Gorilla My Dreams | Jan 14, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 12 | Hand Roll Express | Jan 21, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Beauty and Obese | Feb 11, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 14 | Petticoat Injunction | Feb 18, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 15 | The Bald Ones | Feb 25, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 16 | Fetus Completus | Mar 3, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 17 | Belle of the Bald | Apr 14, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 18 | Open Heart Perjury | Apr 21, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 19 | Leapin' Lizards! | Apr 28, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 20 | Chariots of Meyer | May 5, 1988 | 0.0 |
19 episodes • 1988Avg: 8.0
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hey, Lick Me Over | Nov 3, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 2 | The Son Also Rises | Nov 10, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 3 | Romancing the Drone | Nov 17, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 4 | Sperminator | Dec 1, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 5 | Princess and the Pee | Dec 8, 1988 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Dummy Dearest | Dec 15, 1988 | 8.0 |
| 7 | To Live and Diet in L.A. | Jan 5, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 8 | I'm in the Nude for Love | Jan 12, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 9 | Victor/Victorious | Jan 19, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 10 | The Plane Mutiny | Feb 9, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 11 | Izzy Ackerman or Is He Not? | Feb 16, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 12 | The Accidental Jurist | Feb 23, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Barstow Bound | Mar 23, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 14 | Leave It to Geezer | Mar 30, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 15 | The Unbearable Lightness of Boring | Apr 6, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 16 | His Suit Is Hirsute | Apr 27, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 17 | America the Beautiful | May 4, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 18 | Urine Trouble Now | May 11, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 19 | Consumed Innocent | May 18, 1989 | 0.0 |
22 episodes • 1989Avg: 7.5
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Unsterile Cuckoo | Nov 2, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 2 | Captain Hurt | Nov 9, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 3 | When Irish Eyes Are Smiling | Nov 16, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 4 | The Mouse That Soared | Nov 23, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 5 | One Rat, One Ranger | Nov 30, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Lie Down and Deliver | Dec 7, 1989 | 0.0 |
| 7 | Placenta Claus Is Coming to Town | Dec 14, 1989 | 7.0 |
| 8 | The Good Human Bar | Jan 4, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 9 | Noah's Bark | Jan 11, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 10 | The Pay's Lousy, But the Tips Are Great | Jan 18, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 11 | True Brit | Jan 25, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 12 | On Your Honor | Feb 8, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Whatever Happened to Hannah? | Feb 15, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 14 | Ex-Wives and Videotapes | Feb 22, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 15 | Blood, Sweat and Fears | Mar 15, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 16 | Bounds for Glory | Mar 22, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 17 | Justice Swerved | Mar 29, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 18 | Watts a Matter? | Apr 5, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 19 | Bang... Zoom... Zap | Apr 26, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 20 | Forgive Me Father, For I Have Sued | May 3, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 21 | Outward Bound | May 10, 1990 | 8.0 |
| 22 | The Last Gasp | May 17, 1990 | 0.0 |
22 episodes • 1990Avg: 8.0
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Bitch Is Back | Oct 18, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 2 | Happy Trails | Oct 25, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 3 | Lie Harder | Nov 1, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 4 | Armand's Hammer | Nov 8, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 5 | Smoke Gets in Your Thighs | Nov 15, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Vowel Play | Nov 29, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 7 | New Kidney on the Block | Dec 6, 1990 | 0.0 |
| 8 | God Rest Ye Little Gentleman | Dec 13, 1990 | 8.0 |
| 9 | Splatoon | Jan 3, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 10 | Pump it Up | Jan 10, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 11 | Rest in Pieces | Jan 31, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 12 | He's a Crowd | Feb 7, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Dances with Sharks | Feb 14, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 14 | The Gods Must Be Lawyers | Feb 21, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 15 | The Beverly Hills Hangers | Mar 14, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 16 | Good to the Last Drop | Mar 21, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 17 | Mutinies on the Banzai | Mar 28, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 18 | As God Is My Co-Defendant | Apr 4, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 19 | Speak, Lawyers, For Me | Apr 25, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 20 | There Goes the Judge | May 2, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 21 | On the Toad Again | May 9, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 22 | Since I Fell For You | May 16, 1991 | 0.0 |
22 episodes • 1991Avg: 8.0
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Something Old, Something Nude | Oct 10, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 2 | TV or Not TV | Oct 17, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 3 | Do the Spike Thing | Oct 31, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 4 | Spleen It to Me, Lucy | Nov 7, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 5 | Monkey on My Back Lot | Nov 14, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Badfellas | Nov 21, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 7 | Lose the Boss | Dec 12, 1991 | 0.0 |
| 8 | The Nut Before Christmas | Dec 19, 1991 | 8.0 |
| 9 | Guess Who's Coming To Murder? | Jan 9, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 10 | Back to the Suture | Jan 16, 1992 | 8.0 |
| 11 | All About Sleaze | Jan 30, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 12 | I'm Ready for My Closeup, Mr. Markowitz | Feb 13, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Steal It Again, Sam | Feb 20, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 14 | Diet, Diet, My Darling | Feb 27, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 15 | Great Balls Afire | Mar 19, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 16 | From Here to Paternity | Mar 26, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 17 | P.S. Your Shrink Is Dead | Apr 16, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 18 | Love in Bloom | Apr 23, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 19 | Silence of the Lambskins | Apr 30, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 20 | Beauty and the Breast | May 7, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 21 | Double Breasted Suit | May 14, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 22 | Say Goodnight, Gracie | May 21, 1992 | 0.0 |
22 episodes • 1992Avg: 7.0Valley of Despair
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L.A. Lawless | Oct 22, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 2 | Second Time Around | Oct 29, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 3 | Zo Long | Nov 5, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 4 | Wine Knot | Nov 12, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 5 | My Friend Flicker | Nov 19, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Love on the Rox | Dec 3, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 7 | Helter Shelter | Dec 10, 1992 | 0.0 |
| 8 | Christmas Stalking | Dec 17, 1992 | 7.0 |
| 9 | Odor in the Court | Jan 7, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 10 | Spanky and the Art Gang | Jan 14, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 11 | Bare Witness | Feb 4, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 12 | Parent Trap | Feb 11, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Hello and Goodbye | Feb 18, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 14 | Where There's a Will | Feb 25, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 15 | F.O.B. | Apr 1, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 16 | Cold Shower | Apr 8, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 17 | That's Why the Lady Is a Stamp | Apr 15, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 18 | Come Rain or Come Schein | Apr 22, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 19 | Vindaloo in the Villows | Apr 29, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 20 | Testing, Testing, 1...2...3...4 | May 6, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 21 | Bourbon Cowboy | May 13, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 22 | Hackett or Pack It | May 27, 1993 | 0.0 |
22 episodes • 1993Avg: 7.0Valley of Despair
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Book of Renovation, Chapter 1 | Oct 7, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 2 | Leap of Faith | Oct 14, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 3 | How Much Is That Bentley in the Window? | Oct 21, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 4 | Foreign Co-Respondent | Oct 28, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 5 | The Green, Green Grass of Home | Nov 4, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Safe Sex | Nov 11, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 7 | Pacific Rimshot | Nov 18, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 8 | Eli's Gumming | Dec 9, 1993 | 0.0 |
| 9 | Rhyme and Punishment | Dec 16, 1993 | 7.0 |
| 10 | He Ain't Guilty, He's My Brother | Feb 3, 1994 | 0.0 |
| 11 | McKenzie, Brackman, Barnum & Bailey | Feb 10, 1994 | 0.0 |
| 12 | Cold Cuts | Feb 17, 1994 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Age of Insolence | Feb 24, 1994 | 0.0 |
| 14 | God is My Co-Counsel | Mar 10, 1994 | 0.0 |
| 15 | Three on a Patch | Mar 17, 1994 | 0.0 |
| 16 | Whose San Andreas Fault Is it, Anyway? | Mar 24, 1994 | 0.0 |
| 17 | Silence is Golden | Apr 14, 1994 | 0.0 |
| 18 | Dead Issue | Apr 21, 1994 | 0.0 |
| 19 | Tunnel of Love | Apr 28, 1994 | 0.0 |
| 20 | How Am I Driving? | May 5, 1994 | 0.0 |
| 21 | Whistle Stop | May 12, 1994 | 0.0 |
| 22 | Finish Line | May 19, 1994 | 0.0 |
