Queens Supreme was a CBS network courtroom comedy\drama series created by Dan and Peter Thomas.
The show aired from January 10 to May 16, 2003, lasting for one season & 13 episodes. It was produced by Shoelace Productions, Spelling Television, Red Om Films, Revolution Studios, Shadowland Productions & CBS Productions.
Plot[]
The series centered on New York judge Jack Moran who (with his equally eccentric and colorful as colleagues) preside over court cases in the real-life Queens Supreme Court in Long Island City, Queens.
Cast[]
- Oliver Platt as Judge Jack Moran
- Robert Loggia as Judge Thomas O'Neill
- Annabella Sciorra as Judge Kim Vicidomini
- L. Scott Caldwell as Judge Rose Barnea
- Marcy Harriell as Carmen Hui
- James Madio as Mike Powell
Production[]
The idea for "Queens Supreme" came about when two New York attorneys, twin brothers Dan and Peter Thomas, were discussing courtroom stories based on their shared experiences in Queens while on a plane flight to California in 2001.
One of the passengers, a Hollywood producer, was sitting next to them and mentioned that they could be the basis for a television series.
Indeed, the producer brought the idea to screenwriter Kevin Fox who later successfully pitched it to CBS. Fox was initially hesitant in becoming involved, feeling there were too many courtroom dramas already, but agreed after spending time at the New York Supreme Court himself.
The project was helped along by Dan's wife Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, the head of Red Om Films (a subsidiary of Julia Roberts' production company, Shoelace Productions) and a partner in Joe Roth's Revolution Studios, who was then looking for film and television products to develop.
Roberts' involvement was partially responsible in bringing such a high-profile cast and crew to the series.
The television pilot was filmed at both the Long Island City and New York State Supreme Courthouses by actor Tim Robbins in mid-August 2002 and 12 episodes were eventually ordered by the network.
"Queens Supreme" was a midseason replacement for "Robbery Homicide Division" and premiered on January 10, 2003 (alongside "Presidio Med") in the prime-time Friday night timeslot.