Nicole Ari Parker

CHICAGO – “The Deep End” is yet another legal show about young stars in their field trying to do what’s right within the system and keep their heads above water at a high-powered firm. To say we’ve seen the set-up of ABC’s “The Deep End” a dozen times before would be a massive understatement. The question is what the writers and cast do within the tried-and-true structure. The answer is nothing at all.

CHICAGO – Nobody expects an actor to maintain the ambitions of their early career. The manic energy of Eddie Murphy from “Raw” or “48 Hours” is as gone as an ‘80s hairdo. But the numbing sameness of family-friendly Eddie is a direction that is stultifying, and does no favors for him or the audience.