Conviction (2006 TV series)


Conviction is an American legal drama television series that aired on NBC as a mid-season replacement from March 3 to May 19, 2006. The cast includes Stephanie March reprising her ' role as Alexandra Cabot. In the series, Cabot returns to New York City and becomes a Bureau Chief ADA supervising a group of young but talented assistant district attorneys after a stint in the Witness Protection Program. Other cast members include Eric Balfour, Anson Mount, Jordan Bridges, Julianne Nicholson, Milena Govich, and J. August Richards.
Prior to the show's debut, creator Dick Wolf remarked, "Conviction will be a 'charactercedural', we will be dealing extensively with characters' back stories and personal lives. I am delighted with the extraordinary cast we have assembled, which will give the show depth and emotional intensity."
Convictions premiere came precisely one year after the premiere of the short-lived ', which was also created by Dick Wolf and also aired on NBC. On February 21, 2006, the pilot episode of Conviction was made available for free download through iTunes music store; the free download was available until March 3, the date of the NBC premiere. The pilot and all other aired episodes are now available for purchase.
NBC announced the series would not be renewed for a second season on May 14, 2006, having been routinely beaten in the ratings by CBS's math police procedural Numb3rs.
The theme song to Conviction is "Destiny", by the English electronic music group Syntax. It can be found on their 2004 album Meccano Mind.
Conviction has aired on Five US and Hallmark Channel in the United Kingdom.
Re-runs can currently be seen on Universal HD and Hulu in the United States.
In March 2008, the show debuted in Australia, on Network Ten's Ten HD channel.

Cast and characters

Ratings

Cancellation and aftermath

Conviction lost all of its Friday night ratings battles to CBS' Numb3rs. The last minute addition of Alexandra Cabot resulted in what was perceived as an unflattering and out-of-character portrayal. Also, despite Dick Wolf's claim of keeping the story character driven and giving detailed backgrounds, much of Cabot's character was not developed or explained.
The cancellation also came as the second legal drama failure for Dick Wolf, the first being '. Coincidentally, the show reused several of TBJs sets.
Conviction averaged 7.7 million viewers overall, 2.5 mill. in the 18–49 demo, and 8 share. In contrast, the competing show, Numb3rs, averaged 11.7 million viewers overall, 3.3 mill. in the 18–49 demo, and 10 share.
Nevertheless, two actresses from the series have moved on to become lead characters in other Law & Order series. Milena Govich appeared on the original Law & Order as Det. Nina Cassady in its 17th season, having first appeared on Law & Order as a guest star in 2005. Julianne Nicholson, who played the meek Christina Finn, appears as Megan Wheeler on '. Nicholson had previously guest starred on the original Law & Order in the episode "All My Children" in 2001.

DVD release