PICKET FENCES: THE BODY POLITIC (TV)
Summary
One in this series of off-beat dramas that often focuses on social issues as it chronicles the lives of Rome, Wisconsin, residents, including town Sheriff Jimmy Brock; his wife Dr. Jill Brock; their three children, Kimberly, Matthew, and Zachary; and his two deputies, Kenny Lacos and Maxine Stewart. In this episode, Judge Henry Bone must decide two cases that concern privacy and health: A dentist sues to regain his city job after he is fired following the public disclosure that he is HIV-positive, and a husband wishes to artificially sustain his wife's life against the specifications of her will so that the first-trimester fetus that his wife is carrying can be born. Jimmy discovers that his family dentist, Dr. Paymer, who also maintains a city contract to treat municipal workers and public school children, has tested positive for HIV, so he informs Mayor Pugen of the situation. When Paymer refuses Pugen's request to make his health status public, the dentist is dismissed. A court case ensues with Jill testifying on behalf of Paymer. Another court battle erupts as Douglas Wambaugh defends a man who insists that his spouse be kept alive artificially, following a car accident, so that she may give birth to the child they were expecting. Bone must make the decision knowing that the woman's will clearly declines the aid of life-support systems in the event of an accident. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: February 5, 1993 Friday 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:46:54
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:34572
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: AIDS (Disease) - Drama; Drama; LGBT Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1992-1996
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- David E. Kelley … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Michael Pressman … Co-Executive Producer
- Alice West … Senior Producer
- Mark B. Perry … Producer
- Robert Breech … Producer
- Jonathan Pontell … Co-Producer
- Steve Robin … Associate Producer
- Mel Damski … Director
- Stewart Levin … Music by
- Kathy Baker … Cast, Dr. Jill Brock
- Tom Skerritt … Cast, Sheriff Jimmy Brock
- Costas Mandylor … Cast, Kenny Lacos
- Lauren Holly … Cast, Maxine Stewart
- Holly Marie Combs … Cast, Kimberly Brock
- Justin Shenkarow … Cast, Matthew Brock
- Adam Wylie … Cast, Zachary Brock
- Ray Walston … Cast, Judge Henry Bone
- Fyvush Finkel … Cast, Douglas Wambaugh
- Gary Frank … Cast, Dr. Bufell
- Joel Polis … Cast, Dr. Paymer
- Michael Keenan … Cast, Mayor Pugen
- Claudette Nevins … Cast, Claudia
- Robert Cornthwaite … Cast, Howard Buss
- Kristen Lowman … Cast, Mrs. Majorie Parks
- Elissabeth Moss … Cast, Cynthia Parks
- Nancy Stephens … Cast, Mrs. Kendall
- Kevin Brief … Cast, the Security Guard
- Olivia V. White … Cast, Eve Stockton
- Jean Sagal … Cast, Elena
- Liz Sagal … Cast, Ellen