Series synopsis
Picket Fences is an American drama comedy television series that premiered on CBS on September 18, 1992. It ended on June 26, 1996. It was created by David E. Kelley. It stars Tom Skerritt, Kathy Baker, Costas Mandylor and Lauren Holly.
An aging Sheriff tries to keep the peace in Rome, Wisconsin, a small town plagued by bizarre and violent crimes.
Premise
An aging Sheriff tries to keep the peace in Rome, Wisconsin, a small town plagued by bizarre and violent crimes.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Tom Skerritt as Jimmy Brock
- Kathy Baker as Jill Brock
- Costas Mandylor as Kenny Lacos
- Lauren Holly as Maxine Stewart
- Holly Marie Combs as Kimberly Brock
- Justin Shenkarow as Matthew Brock
- Adam Wylie as Zack Brock
- Ray Walston as Henry Bone
Supporting cast
- Zelda Rubinstein as Ginny Weedon
- Don Cheadle as John Littleton
- Fyvush Finkel as Douglas Wambaugh
- Shane West as Dave Lattimore
- Stephen Brown as Paramedic
- Alan Ruck as Patrick Gatwood
- Darlene Cates as Sophie Wallace
- Deborah Tucker as Kimberly's Friend
- Catherine Richardson as Sylvie / Interpreter
- Patti Yasutake as Nurse
- Kelly Connell as Carter Pike
- Jack Black as Curtis Williams
Guest cast
- Shane West as Dave Lattimore
- Stephen Brown as Paramedic
- Alan Ruck as Patrick Gatwood
- Darlene Cates as Sophie Wallace
- Deborah Tucker as Kimberly's Friend
- Catherine Richardson as Sylvie / Interpreter
- Patti Yasutake as Nurse
- Kelly Connell as Carter Pike
- Jack Black as Curtis Williams
- Lisa Chess as Rebecca
- James Lurie as Timothy Malone
- Amy Aquino as Dr. Joanna 'Joey' Diamond
Episodes
This series spans 5 seasons with 89 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 1 | ||
| Season 1 | 22 | September 18, 1992 | May 6, 1993 |
| Season 2 | 22 | October 22, 1993 | May 13, 1994 |
| Season 3 | 22 | September 23, 1994 | May 12, 1995 |
| Season 4 | 22 | September 22, 1995 | June 26, 1996 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
All Roads Lead to Rome Featurette from Season 1 DVD featuring David E. Kelley and the cast |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Picket Fences A beloved local man is killed during a stage production of The Wizard of Oz. Suspicion initially falls on the town pharmacist when the sheriff learns the dead man was having an affair with the pharmacist's daughter. The dead man's wife confesses but her confession is suppressed in court. She is then murdered and the Sheriff's department discovers that she and the pharmacist conspired to kill her husband and then the pharmacist killed her. |
September 18, 1992 |
| 2 |
The Green Bay Chopper After a child brings a severed human hand to school for show and tell, the Sheriff's department teams with the FBI to pursue a serial kidnapper, the "Green Bay Chopper", who severs the right hands of his victims. |
September 25, 1992 |
| 3 |
Mr. Dreeb Comes to Town Max falls for a dwarf who rides into town on an elephant, which the dwarf says was being abused at a circus. Jill tells Kimberly's favorite teacher, Mr. Pankow, that he has a brain tumor. |
October 2, 1992 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Turpitude Mayor Pugen kills a carjacker after the carjacker drops his weapon and Sheriff Brock must decide whether to press murder charges. When he does, the new district attorney has to choose how to prosecute the case. |
October 22, 1993 |
| 2 |
Duty Free Rome Douglas Wambaugh appeals Mayor Pugen's murder conviction but the mayor spontaneously combusts. A Catholic couple who carry the genes for Hurler syndrome are tormented by the church's prohibition on contraception. Max's therapist attempts to manipulate her into a sexual relationship and she has him arrested. |
October 28, 1993 |
| 3 |
Unlawful Entries Kenny and Max respond to a report of a rape and find a man and woman fighting. Under pressure from Kenny, the man says that it was she who raped him. Following a probable cause hearing, Judge Bone advises the district attorney and Wambaugh to reach a plea bargain. The woman gets a year sentence, suspended, after pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault. Local businesswoman Rachel Harris is sworn in as mayor and she and Jimmy clash over her plans for his office. Max's former therapist manipulates her into dropping charges and they enter into a sexual relationship. |
October 29, 1993 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Survival of the Fittest A local girl disappears and Sherriff Brock suspects her boyfriend, Brian Latham, is involved. Meanwhile, Jill opposes a grade school teacher who is teaching creationism. |
September 23, 1994 |
| 2 |
Systematic Abuse District Attorney Littleton and defense lawyer Douglas Wambaugh prepare for the upcoming murder trial of Brian Latham. Littleton is concerned that his case will be hampered by the absence of hard evidence. |
September 30, 1994 |
| 3 |
The Bus Stops Here (1) A Wisconsin Federal judge orders that 400 black students from the Green Bay ghetto be bused to Rome's schools, prompting panic among Sheriff Brock and the parents, knowing that a good number of them are lowlifes and drug dealers that come from that neighborhood. Meanwhile, Wambaugh gets a surprising response to his appeal of the Brian Latham murder conviction to go the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington DC. Also, Maxine makes a mess of her relationship with Littleton. |
October 7, 1994 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
A Change of Season Kimberly surprises her parents with her plans to attend medical school out of state. Carter Pike's house catches fire after he had taken some sedatives, leaving Jill Brock to suspect a suicide attempt. |
September 22, 1995 |
| 2 |
Reap the Whirlwind The Wambaughs have an argument on their 50th anniversary as a tornado threatens the town. Jimmy and Jill worry about Kimberly who is away at college. Meanwhile, Carter meets an interesting new woman while buying quilting supplies. |
September 29, 1995 |
| 3 |
Pal Joey A former talk show host, Dr. Joanna "Joey" Diamond (Amy Aquino) joins Jill's medical practice. Kenny begins using a dating service. |
October 6, 1995 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | CBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 18, 1992 |
| Last aired | June 26, 1996 |
| Runtime | 42 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Friday at 22:00:00 |