User Reviews

I loved this show, y'all, except for the last season of course because Amy never wound up with the guy she obviously should have wound up with and neither did her brother.

Erm--the clerk and Amy ought to have gotten together, and Kyle and the blonde women were obviously meant for each other. Take the plunge, people. You can't string us along for that many years and then just drop us on our faces. It sucks.

This show did feature some excellent female actresses, however, and it was nice to see a show that revolved around women for a change. Where can I get dvds? Why aren't there any for sale on Amazon? Hello! I am willing to spend money, here! Why won't you enable me to do so?

This show is about a judge, her life as a daughter,wife and lover and the lives of the people whom she loves. I am drawn each time I watch an episode. Each character, each storyline was compelling. There were so many values about family, work, siblings and dealing with issues so many people young and old experience today. I think I can relate to some. It just makes me drop the remote control, sit and watch. That's why when I learned that this show was canceled, I was shocked. How could they cancel such a great show? I just had to place a comment here. I had just watched one episode before typing this. Maybe it didn't appeal to the target audience as I've read somewhere that this show was targeted to much older women. My little sister and I, (we are both under the age of 18 years) love the show a lot. It was aired late over where we live so we still get to see "new" episodes but then, that's it. When all the seasons are done, there would be nothing new to look forward to. Just reruns. How disappointing!

I missed this show the first time round but am glad I stumbled onto it at an age I could appreciate it. It deals with serious issues and is very creative in planning out each case featured in the episodes. Every case is just so different and is treated that way. It makes it feel like a real court hearing that has victims, criminals, family and personal experiences, the hard thing is working out the truth and the right balance.

The cast is also very good, even if occasionally they have a habit of pissing me off with their stupid idiotic behaviour. I guess the problem is that they are human and therefore not perfect.

A clever and emotional show that allows you to view the criminal justice system from the side of the decider. Still as relevant as it was back in the nineties.

As a TV drama addict, I have to admit that the premise for this show did not inspire me.

How wrong I was.

The storylines are challenging and the actors all give fine balanced performances.

My greatest praise, however, is reserved for Tyne Daly. Her performance as Maxine Grey is one of the best I have ever seen on TV.

She deserves an Emmy.

Did you ever notice your major network's morbid fascination with death? Nearly every prime-time drama is a law enforcement drama from the perspective of cops, criminal investigators, or lawyers. And nearly everyone is about investigations into violent crimes. Take CSI, for example, a forensics show piecing together the clues behind violent homicides. Law & Order, no matter which one you watch, is usually about brutal crimes as well. These two I give as examples considering their popularity among network viewers.

But Judging Amy is quite a refreshing break from the world of violent crime, though it is not without it's share into the investigation of some violent crime. However, it is also not done so morbidly. Judging Amy is a show about the legal system as well as a regular drama about the regular, normal lives of the character. In a day and age of violent television, it offer a little bit soap drama (but not sappy drama) and a bit of humor (particularly from Amy's mom, the witty Maxine Gray).

Amy Gray (Amy Brennan) is a judge in family court. As a single mother, she lives with her mother, Maxine, (the wonderful Tyne Daily), and her daughter (Lauren Karle Warren). There's also Amy's charismatic and poignant friend, Donna, her clerk, and Bruce Van Exel (Richard T. Jones) who is Amy's coworker as well as her source of direction on many occasions. So, we see Amy on two fronts: as the family court judge and as single mother and member of a busy family.

Thus, the show caters to an audience just looking for a regular drama as we see the various situations surrounding the Gray family life such as the lessons Amy tries to teach her teenage daughter, or Maxine's or Amy's love life dilemmas, or perhaps what her cousin Kyle is up to, or the difficulties her brother and sister-in-law are going through. There's always something going on. And the characters are all interesting enough to care.

Judging Amy, too, is good as a critique into the legal system. Three members of the family work in public service (her brother works in insurance, so he doesn't count). Maxine is the brazen social worker at DCF and is determined to make the system work to help as many people as she possibly can, even when the bureaucratic processes try to slow her down (remember when they wanted to fire her for speaking against the mayor for the underfunding of the children's home). These are where most of the arguments about flaws in the cumbersome family law policy comes from because Amy, as a judge, can only make such arguments personally, so they occur sometimes rarely. And her cousin Kyle, worked in a shelter and now in a hospital, and is faced, too, with similar frustrations with a neglecting system of public service.

Likewise, even Bruce is interesting as a vehicle for the arguments against the family law system when he is working as a mediator, attempting to fix situations without having to send parents or children into state custody, and hoping they can fix those problems without an abundance of recidivism. All of these characters are there to make the policy arguments that the show intends.

So, Judging Amy presents two spheres, both enjoyable. And the actors do a terrific job. It's really quite a different show, breaking away from the strict examination of the legal system, but not being thrust into a pure soap drama (but again, even if it were, it's less sappy and much more viable than your soap dramas). The strikes a balance. Not only that, because the show involves a single mother and the dominance, too, of her own mother (Maxine), it is a likely quite a popular show among women. Even so, it is not female dominated. Other characters are probably given equal concentration even though Amy and Maxine are pretty much the main characters, both working as counterparts of one another. Amy sometimes seems less sure of herself, less willing to be on the offensive. Maxine is much more bold, more willing to break the rules if it going to help things along. And she always seems to know what she's doing and how to go about it.

It's a pretty good show, different than most of what's out there on network television, and probably worth your time.

This is a decent show. Amy Brenneman is stunningly beautiful, yet believable as a judge.

Her brother Vincent is well acted and well written. Could do without her other brother and his wife (add nothing to the storyline, just annoying people).

I could also do without the B&W prints between scenes. Not always clear which plot they relate to.

Also, surprised that they cast Amy's daughter Lauren (Karle Warren) (seemingly) without an audition.

She is VERY small for the 6 year old she is playing at the start of the show (even though in reality, she is 7).

In addition, she has SUCH a baby voice, that sometimes I have to put on the closed captions just to understand what she is saying. You would THINK they would screen for that in the audition process.

This show is on my list of all-time favorites. It seems like Amy is the major attraction, but the real star of this show is Tyne Daly. She is incredible both at portraying her character as a strong self-aware woman, as well as a woman with a gentle, many times broken heart. She's simply draws you to the screen, this crazy yet lovely and witty old lady. On the other hand, Amy seems a bit blank and awkward. How is it possible that she is so messed up and confused in her private life, kind of insecure while raising up her daughter, and lifeless in the family atmosphere, and then somehow when she walks in the office and her courtroom, she transforms into a incredible independent and brave woman, a true hero? But nevermind that, i love the show because of the great stories, absolutely plausible in real life, which make you think, and then think again. Life is rough. And Maxine Gray should know about it pretty good.

This show is the one rare show I can watch over and over again without getting sick of it. I still find it so upsetting that it has been cancelled, but also, that is hasn't been released on DVD yet. This show deserves a proper release on DVD and I'm sure loads of people would buy it in a heartbeat (I would!).

There are re-runs on the Dutch TV now, but sadly only from season 5, episode 11 on, and not from the beginning. Am taping those though, so I can re-watch them whenever I want. Still hope to have all episodes on DVD one day though, official or not.

Maxine has to be my favorite character on the show, though I think I love almost all of them (Bruce, Donna, Amy and Sean especially). I love that every single episode is stellar! There are loads of other TV shows I like to watch, but throughout the seasons, the story lines get boring, cast members leave etc…etc…But this show remained perfect from the first till the final episode. So many episodes really moved me, or got me laughing out loud. Still find it sad it got cancelled after the 6th season.

Really the best TV show ever made!

This program would be useful for training hardened felons basic human emotions. Beyond this purpose, the show has no value other than to fill bandwidth that would otherwise go unutilized in the electromagnetic spectrum. I feel a greater sense of suspense and anticipation listening to a computerized voice chip endlessly droning out the products of a random number generator. Fortunately, the helpful and frequent music cues will tell viewers how they're supposed to feel, in case they are unable to fully internalize the predictable and shallow plot line. I did find Amy to be a superficially positive character, as she is a role model to young women that they can serve in traditionally male fields. Unfortunately, her totally subjective approach to the law is guided solely by whatever capricious personal guidelines Amy elects to employ, resulting in Amy's trials more closely resembling appeals to the personal mercy of a tribal despot than a true administration of justice. This show is unpalatable in any amount, although this is to some extent mitigated after two episodes by the brain's god-given filtering processes, by which the show will thankfully leave the same imprint on the viewer's memory as a television tuned to a dead channel at maximum volume.

judging amy is a great show, i'm glad ms. brenneman brought the idea forward. it's refreshing to see something like this on television.

the actors all are incredibly talented, and the chemistry between brenneman and daly definitely heightens the shows sense of reality. this is a show that anyone could love if they enjoy watching talented people working with stellar storylines.

it's more than worth it to stay up until 10 to watch it!

Classy, smart, refreshing and delightful; these are only four of many adjectives that describe "Judging Amy;" one of the best shows on television.

"Judging Amy" is a beautifully crafted, well-written and well-acted television series starring a very talented cast that includes Amy Brenneman, Tyne Daly, Kevin Rahm, Marcus Giamatti, Jessica Tuck and Karle Warren. It is easy to get excited about watching each episode because it will leave everyone with smiles on their faces.

Based upon the life of her mother, Brenneman serves as series creator and executive producer. "Judging Amy" is quality television that focuses upon family, the legal system and how one judge attempts to juggle and maintain an equal balance between both.

Excitement, anticipation and success are the outcomes which comes from a series that contains outstanding writing and strong performances. Quality writing and riveting performances set "Judging Amy" apart as one of the greatest crime dramas or legal series on television at the present time. Each episode is written with intelligence, and contains characters with great depth. It was a pleasant and refreshing surprise to watch "Judging Amy" come up with original ideas for each episode.

Daly's character, Maxine Gray, is the emotional core and matriarch of the series as she portrays the character as the stabilizing, inspiring force which holds the Gray family together. Her screen presence, honesty and class add credibility to"Judging Amy."

My heart skips a beat with anticipation and my face lights up with a smile with every scene Amy Brenneman is in. It is especially fun to watch Brenneman's performance as Judge Amy Gray at work as she uses great charm along with her great dramatic intellect to make the role of Judge Amy Gray someone television viewers can care about.

Among Brenneman's greatest qualities she brings to "Judging Amy" is charm, intelligence, honesty, character and class. Daly may be the emotional core of "Judging Amy," but Brenneman is the heart and soul of the series.

Watching Brenneman and Daly perform together is pure magic. I relish every opportunity there is to watch these two very talented actresses act together because their on-screen mother/daughter relationship can may be mistaken for an off-screen mother/daughter relationship.

I could not have asked for a better supporting cast than Rahm, Giamatti, Tuck and Warren because they bring their own brand of style, humor, charm and talent. They are a great counter-balance to Brenneman in their respective roles.

"Judging Amy" is one of a few television series' that I will set time aside to watch every week. Powerful writing and strong performances make me a devoted fan to the series and care about the characters and story lines. "Judging Amy" is one of the finest legal dramas on television.

I LOVED this show. It REALLY frustrates me that I cannot find it ANYWHERE on DVD. I would buy the entire series.

It seems that the quality of timelessness just cannot be discerned until a show has had time to be seen from a distance. I did not watch this show when it originally aired; maybe the first commercials for it didn't appeal to me or something. So, I have been able to enjoy the entire series for the first time in reruns, and have the advantage of being able to watch it 5 times as fast.

I like the fact that the show's producers listened to viewer's feedback; I love that the show evolved so magnificently; I think it was a great ensemble cast;, and I think Tyne Daly is one of the best actresses I have ever had the privilege of watching. In "Columbo", in "Zoot Suit", in whatever role she chooses, she chooses well and acts well. What a great contribution to our viewing experience.

I watch reruns of Judging Amy almost daily currently, I had forgotten how much I enjoy this show. My usual choice of shows are crime dramas and once in a while there is a really good sitcom on the air. Most drama shows are too boring for me to stick with. I Hate hospital dramas. I love Maxine Grays character the most, she is just the best, intelligent, sensitive, opinionated and strong willed. And Tyne Daly is one of the best actresses ever on TV too bad that she seems to be retired at this time.

I wish there were more dramas like this one. I wish it had been going for more than 6 seasons. But I am glad that one channel shows the reruns, that is something...

I don't know what show some of the "critics" have been watching, because many of the complaints can't possibly apply to the "Judging Amy" I've been watching. For one thing, this show is about as nonpolitical as a show about a judge can be. Issues which come up during the cases heard by Amy or handled by Maxine are decided in the interest of the child--that's the whole point of the juvenile justice system. The only reason I can see for lodging the charge that "Judging Amy" is "left-leaning" is that characters who fall outside the "married-white-protestant-middleclass-traditional-family" group (in other words, most everyone) aren't stoned to death on the show. Other than that, there is no left to lean.

As to whether this is a "woman's show:" first of all, I'm a man, and have loved the show from Week One. The two most important characters are women, but "Amy" has never been one of those shows concerned primarily with emotions and issues unique to women (like "Sisters" or "One Day At A Time")--the third most important character has always been a man (first Vincent, then Kyle). And to say that male characters are treated unfairly is patently ridiculous.

I do think that over the years the show has suffered from too much turnover in Amy's love life--she never seems to date anyone for more than 3 or 4 consecutive shows. My favorite of all the "boyfriends" was Stu (Reed Diamond); I found his history with Amy and the way the relationship was developing well worth exploring. I wish they'd bring him back. Also missed is Dan Futterman. Kevin Rahm as Kyle is doing a fine job, and the character is growing on me, but I really liked the affectionate/prickly/challenging relationships between the main triangle of Amy, Maxine, and Vincent. The other characters are often used in lighter subplots, but are compelling and well-rounded people in their own right. I guess it's possible that "Amy" detractors are NYPD Blue fans upset that "Amy" always beats it in the ratings, but that's hardly an excuse for trashing a good show.

It is real, it is pithy, it is brave, it is true. Its characters are each amazing but also flawed. They are real people trying to manage their lives and though struggling with their own personal worries and anxieties, they actually put themselves out for others as well. Together they make up a very believable family who most of us can relate to. The writing is wonderful, the acting exceptional and the plots teach us valuable lessons about such things as empathy, justice and forgiveness, while simultaneously entertaining us to the fullest. It is not overly intellectual but it does make the viewer think, and yes we also laugh and cry, but mostly we have a big smile on our faces. OK it is sometimes in danger of becoming schmaltz but I believe if we all watched this show regularly the world would be a better place.

I've re-watched all six seasons more times than I can count at this point, much thanks to the constant loop of reruns on a local tv station. Been waiting/hoping for a dvd release for over 10 years and still don't know why it hasn't happened yet.

Season 6 ended somewhat with a cliffhanger and after recently reading that it was supposed to be a 7th season before the cancellation, I've often wondered about the possibilities of another season. Maybe we finally could've seen the Amy/Bruce storyline I personally hoped for since the very beginning. The sad part is that we will never know because they pulled the plug too soon...

As a serious fan of this superior CBS drama, I am fuming angry as to why neither CBS or the former 20th Century Fox Television division (now the property of Walt Disney-stupid, stupid idea!!) has never bothered to release "JUDGING AMY" onto DVD or BluRay? TNT reran the series in the mid 2000s, and its been circulated on several other cable channels, but it has become an annoying corporate mystery, and it has left many like myself very angry and fumed! Will Disney and its rebranded 20th Television and CBS Productions ever get their act together? Will we be made to wait another decade or more before this 1999-2005 series ever see any DVD release? This is NOT how fans of a great TV show should be treated, and CBS and 20th need to be put on notice-stop playing games already, and release "JUDGING AMY" onto DVD-our patience is running thin!!

Only just managed to catch a few episode this week, actually! It is inventive, funny, caustic. Amy herself (the star and producer) is great, but Tyne Daly excels in the role of her mother.

A future classic.

I absolutely love this show and I am not one to enjoy much television. I enjoy Friends, Oprah, and a few various movies that lose my interest soon after I press play. But something about Judging Amy I absolutely love and anticipate everyday from 11a-1p when it airs on primetime. I love the different cases Amy encounters and I love the suspense leading up to her verdict. I love watching Maxine and her ever exciting DCF cases. They are always original and surprisingly real and a good replication of what actually happens daily with social workers. I love Vincent's excitingly boring life.

Lauren is always up to something interesting. And, overall, I think that it is an excellent show that portrays everyday life of a single mother, grandmother, and family. It is not unreal and does not portray any bizarre, unnatural occurrences. It is innocent and just someone's real life story. Excellent show! LOVE IT!!! Jess

I think this show was an excellent show on TV. I think that Tyne Daly is an excellent actress as well as Amy Brenneman I miss it terribly and I would really like having the yearly series to view whenever I have the time. I know many people who feel the same way that I do. I think that Amy Brenneman did an excellent job playing Judge Gray. She was professional on her job and also showed the human side with her family. Tyne Daly is excellent as an social worker. She does an outstanding job. I also like the way that they make the characters have their human sides and show some of their life outside of the job. The writers did an excellent job making all the people who came before the court believable. I hope that this show will be made into a DVD series.

I must've missed this show on regular TV as my hubby was undergoing his cancer treatments at that time. When he passed away, I went into a period of grief for several years. I have just discovered this series on GMC and really like it. My only discomfort is bad language, which this network mercifully omits. I find the acting is superb and the cinematography lovely. The story lines are very interesting; I feel like I am learning more and more about the judicial and child welfare systems in our country. The characters are believable and are beginning to feel like friends. I appreciate the love between the family members and the caring they show toward others. I am so glad I caught the pilot so now am watching forward from that although I don't know if they are airing them in order. However, I am looking forward to it every day no matter what. I highly recommend it and thank Amy for bringing it to us.

"JUDGING AMY," in my opinion, is a pure CBS classic! I haven't seen every episode, but I still enjoyed it. However, I think it was always sad when someone was wrongly put on trial. I always felt bad when that happened. It's hard to say which episode was my favorite. Still, I enjoyed the show very much. In addition, it was nice that everyone stayed with the show throughout it's entire run. It seems like no one does that anymore. Everyone always gave a good performance, the production design was spectacular, the costumes were well-designed, and the writing was always very strong. In conclusion, I hope it lives on in syndication for a long time for fans of the show to see.