the 1996–97 season. Gone were Benzali and his character, as well as many of the show's former regulars including Clarkson, Gedrick, Tucci and Dylan Baker. The producers brought in LaPaglia as the new owner of the firm to replace Benzali, but the second season of the show was far less successful than the first. The original concept of the series, a James Bond-like defense attorney, could not be salvaged with a replacement lead – not least of which because LaPaglia's character spent most episodes trying to borrow money to keep the firm afloat. Other cast members brought in for the second season included D. B. Woodside and Jack Kehler. ABC aired all the episodes filmed, and the plot was prematurely wrapped up in the final episode. ABC ordered the final six episodes to air as a three-night miniseries in the spring of 1997. As the hopes for a series renewal diminished, the three-night miniseries was rescheduled for the less-viewed Memorial Day weekend. The series was dropped at the end of the '96–'97 season. Over its two-year run, ABC aired 41 original episodes. The first season of Murder One has aired several times on cable networks such as A&E and Court TV in the United States. (Court TV was substituted in the series by the fictional "Law TV".) Both seasons have been released on DVD in the US and UK, with different packaging in each country. Characters Season 1 Main cast Daniel Benzali as Theodore Hoffman Mary McCormack as Justine Appleton Michael Hayden as Chris Docknovich Grace Phillips as Lisa Gillespie J. C. MacKenzie as Arnold Spivak Stanley Tucci as Richard Cross Dylan Baker as Detective Arthur Polson Vanessa Estelle Williams as Lila John Fleck as Louis Hines Kevin Tighe as David Blalock Barbara Bosson as Deputy District Attorney Miriam Grasso Patricia Clarkson as Annie Hoffman Jason Gedrick as Neil Avedon Recurring guest stars Donna Murphy as Francesca Cross Bobbie Phillips as Julie Costello Linda Carlson as Judge Beth Bornstein Stanley Kamel as Dr. Graham Lester Gregory Itzin as District Attorney Roger Garfield Joe Spano as Ray Velacek John Pleshette as Gary Blondo Nancy Lee Grahn as Connie Dahlgren Adam Scott as Sidney Schneider Season 2 Main cast Anthony LaPaglia as Jimmy Wyler Mary McCormack as Justine Appleton Michael Hayden as Chris Docknovich J. C. MacKenzie as Arnold Spivak D. B. Woodside as Aaron Mosley Barbara Bosson as Deputy District Attorney