TRIALS OF ROSIE O’NEILL, THE (CBS 1990-1992) Sharon Gless, Ron Rifkin, Dorian Harewood, Georgann Johnson, Lisa Banes, Lisa Rieffel, Edward Asner, Robert Wagner

The Trials of Rosie O'Neill is a compelling legal drama series that delves into the professional and personal life of Rosie O'Neill (Sharon Gless), a successful, recently divorced 43-year-old attorney who had left the lucrative Beverly Hills law practice she had shared with her ex-husband to become a public defender.

After a failed marriage and the loss of her father, Rosie returns to her roots, taking on challenging cases that test her skills and moral compass. As she navigates the complex world of the legal system, Rosie also grapples with her own inner struggles and relationships, bringing a deep sense of realism and emotional depth to her journey.

Rosie’s life was one of constant anguish. Her new career did not sit well with either her friends or family, who couldn’t understand why she would take such a frustrating low-paying job, and the personnel in the Los Angeles County Public Defenders Office thought she was slumming.

Rosie’s family included her conservative, socially prominent mother Charlotte (Georgann Johnson); her married sister, Doreen (Lisa Banes); and Kim (Lisa Rieffel), her ex-husband’s daughter. Kim had grown so close to Rosie that, when she had trouble at home with her father’s young third wife early in the second season, she moved in with Rosie.

The office staff consisted of Rosie’s boss, Ben (Ron Rifkin); Hank (Dorian Harewood), the public defender with whom she shared an office; Carole (Elaine Kagan), the department secretary; Barbara (Bridget Gless, the star’s niece), the young clerk who worked part-time while attending law school; fellow public defenders Udell (Geoffrey Lower), Mason (Victor Bevine), and Valerie (Dayna Winston); and investigators Pete (Tony Perez), George (Al Pugliese), and Walter Kovacs (Edward Asner).

Kovacs was a retired 35-year-veteran of the police force and a hard-nosed conservative, constantly at odds with liberal Rosie’s attitudes about her clients.

Most episodes of the series opened with Rosie in her analyst’s office, talking about personal and professional problems she was trying to work out. The part of the analyst, always seen from the rear, was played by series producer Barney Rosenzweig, who had also produced Ms Gless’ previous series Cagney & Lacey.

Notable guests stars included Tyne Daly, Helen Hunt, Brenda Vaccaro, Carole King, Lynn Whitfield, Robert Foxworth, James Avery, Lynne Moody, Cliff De Young, Pat Harrington, Jr., Paul Sand, Bruce Fairbairn, Zelda Rubinstein, David Rasche.

Meg Foster was seen in 5 episodes as D.A. Deb Grant. Foster is known for playing the role of Christine Cagney in Cagney & Lacey during the series first season. She was replaced by Sharon Gless.

Robert Wagner joined the show in 1992 in an attempt to save it from cancellation. He played suave Peter Donovan, the new editor of the Los Angeles Chronicle who became Rosie’s lover. It became a bittersweet relationship for her when she discovered he was not actually divorced from his wife.

Packed with powerful performances, thought-provoking storylines, and a strong female lead, The Trials of Rosie O'Neill offers an engaging and inspiring look at the pursuit of justice and personal redemption.

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Number of DVDs: 17

Number of Episodes: 34

Quality: 9.5/10

Running Time: 27 hr 12 min (approx)

Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen 1.33:1

NOTES: This is a fan-made DVD set. Not a studio release.