Picket Fences: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 6 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	Your Score
8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 6 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

CBS | Season Premiere Date: September 18, 1992

Starring: Kathy Baker, Adam Wylie, Lauren Holly

Summary: From award winning producer David E. Kelley ("Ally McBeal", "The Practice" and "Boston Legal") comes Picket Fences, a story of a small town sherrif trying to maintain the town & his family.Sherrif James Brock (Tom Skerrit) is trying to maintain the small town of Rome, Wisconin. His wife Jill (Kathy Baker) is the doctor of the town, daughterFrom award winning producer David E. Kelley ("Ally McBeal", "The Practice" and "Boston Legal") comes Picket Fences, a story of a small town sherrif trying to maintain the town & his family.Sherrif James Brock (Tom Skerrit) is trying to maintain the small town of Rome, Wisconin. His wife Jill (Kathy Baker) is the doctor of the town, daughter Kimberley (Holly Marie Combs), from a previous marriage of Jimmy, is the level headed student growing up in Rome. Jimmy and Jill have two other children, Matthew (Justin Shenkarow) and Zach (Adam Wylie).Trying his best to keep the town in order, Judge Henry Bone (Ray Walston) rules the court room and while he doesn't always stick to the law, he does what is best for the town. Making Judge Bone's job harder is lawer Douglas Wambaugh (Fyvush Finkel), a friend of Judge Bone but an enemy in the court room. Wambaugh goes to extreme lengths to win the case, but he is after all a character!Also around in the town of Rome are D.A John Littelon (Don Cheadle), a straight man for the antics of Wambaugh, the strange Medical Examinor Carter Pike (Kelly Connel) and deputy's Max and Kenny an on & off couple.The town of Rome never ran smoothly though, with a revolving door of mayors along with cows giving birth to humansand an array of people found dead in freezers.While the show was adored by critics, it never quite found great ratings on CBS and was cancelled after 4 seasons. Creator David E. Kelley left his post as Executive Producer after season 3, which brought a different style of show during season 4 - returning only to write 2 stand out episodes that year. Some have suggested this is why the show met its demise when Kelley left. Also the show does reach a fitting conclusion but it comes rather rushed as it was believed the show would be coming back for season 5. Picket Fences remains a class show and now with the first season recently released on DVD you can enjoy it all over again! … Expand

Creator: David E. Kelley

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

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S1:E22. The Lullaby League
Air Date: May 6, 1993
tbd
S1:E21. Sugar and Spice
Air Date: April 29, 1993
tbd
S1:E20. Rights of Passage
Air Date: April 15, 1993

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

Marvin Kitman

Jul 12, 2013

With the mix of bizarre cases and believably goofy characters, I found already I never wanted the show to end. It's great stuff working on three levels at once. [17 Sep 1992]

Rick Kogan

Jun 18, 2013

Although some may find this creation of David E. Kelley, the wizard behind "L.A. Law," too weird, I think it's wonderful. [18 Sept 1992, p.1]

Howard Rosenberg

Jun 19, 2013

A rather bent sense of humor -- woven into a nice little whodunit -- is what lifts the flawed-but-engaging premiere of Picket Fences above the ordinary, raising expectations for the future. [18 Sept 1992, p.F1]

Ken Tucker

Jun 10, 2013

Picket Fences clearly aims to be a kinder, gentler [Twin] Peaks, but the goosey, paradoxical mood for which it strives — heartwarming creepiness — is, at this point, more of a turnoff than a turn-on. Read full review

Tom Shales

Jun 19, 2013

Often engaging, inventive, well acted and wickedly funny, Picket Fences keeps shooting itself in the foot with tastelessness disguised as daring. Irritating as it may frequently be, however, Picket Fences also seems the new fall drama most likely to become habit-forming. You may love it, you may hate it, but you're liable to be hooked. [18 Sept 1992, p.D1]

Laurence Vittes

Jun 18, 2013

Unfortunately, Skerritt sleepwalks through most of the show, Baker allows her bemused mom role to settle into an assembly-line dog trot, and the Brock children take precocity to a new level of annoyance. [18 Sept 1992]

Greg Dawson

Jun 19, 2013

This is the most loathsome, repugnantly ugly piece of television I've seen in a long time - cynical, cheap, tawdry, pretentious and manipulative. [18 Sept 1992, p.E1]

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User Score

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User Reviews

inca48

Feb 16, 2018

These series are absolutely wonderful. Very very interesting and all the characters ring true. Lauren Holly looks gorgeous. Great cast and really interesting stories. A pleasure to look at.

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RogerSmith97

Mar 7, 2011

This Is Honestly A Really Good Show! But In Some Points It Does Seem Like The Same Thing Over & Over And I Think That's Why The Series Went Off The Air So Quickly..
The Writing At Some Points Seems Super Creative, But Sometimes It's Like "What The Heck"!!
The Acting Is Great!! I Think TheThis Is Honestly A Really Good Show! But In Some Points It Does Seem Like The Same Thing Over & Over And I Think That's Why The Series Went Off The Air So Quickly..
The Writing At Some Points Seems Super Creative, But Sometimes It's Like "What The Heck"!!
The Acting Is Great!!
I Think The Show Shouldn't Of Stayed On Longer Than 4 Seasons.. Those 4 Seasons Were Good Years!
Overall The Score Is 8!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Seasons & Episodes

60

Series Overview
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: September 22, 1995
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 23, 1994
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: October 22, 1993
Season 1

61
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 18, 1992
- tbd
  S1:E22. The Lullaby League
  Air Date: May 6, 1993
- tbd
  S1:E21. Sugar and Spice
  Air Date: April 29, 1993
- tbd
  S1:E20. Rights of Passage
  Air Date: April 15, 1993
- tbd
  S1:E19. Sightings
  Air Date: April 8, 1993
- tbd
  S1:E18. Fetal Attraction
  Air Date: April 1, 1993
- tbd
  S1:E17. Be My Valentine
  Air Date: February 12, 1993
- tbd
  S1:E16. The Body Politic
  Air Date: February 5, 1993
- tbd
  S1:E15. Nuclear Meltdowns
  Air Date: January 22, 1993
- tbd
  S1:E14. Bad Moons Rising
  Air Date: January 15, 1993
- tbd
  S1:E13. Frog Man
  Air Date: January 8, 1993
- tbd
  S1:E12. High Tidings
  Air Date: December 18, 1992
- tbd
  S1:E11. Pageantry
  Air Date: December 11, 1992
- tbd
  S1:E10. The Snake Lady
  Air Date: December 4, 1992
- tbd
  S1:E9. Thanksgiving
  Air Date: November 13, 1992
- tbd
  S1:E8. Sacred Hearts
  Air Date: November 6, 1992
- tbd
  S1:E7. The Contenders
  Air Date: October 30, 1992
- tbd
  S1:E6. Remembering Rosemary
  Air Date: October 26, 1992
- tbd
  S1:E5. Frank the Potato Man
  Air Date: October 23, 1992
- tbd
  S1:E4. The Autumn of Rome
  Air Date: October 16, 1992
- tbd
  S1:E3. Mr. Dreeb Comes to Town
  Air Date: October 2, 1992
- tbd
  S1:E2. The Green Bay Chopper
  Air Date: September 25, 1992
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: September 18, 1992