The exchange below takes place between Rex Alexander and his friend Bruce, in regards to Rex's ex-fiancee Lindsey (though I'm not certain, it is possible that this scene is the one that was shot on the golf course with David Tennant and Jerry O'Connell this past week).


BRUCE
I need to ask you a question, Rex.

REX
Sorry, we are NOT settling.

BRUCE
Settling? Are you kidding? What I was going to say is that I think I’d like to start seeing Lindsey, and I was wondering if I could ask your permission.

REX
Well, that’s very big of you, Bruce.

BRUCE
It’s been six months and I just thought I should ask, you know?

REX
Has it already started?

BRUCE
Not really.

REX
What about the little things?

BRUCE
Well, sure…

REX
Flirting?

BRUCE
Yea…

REX
Kissing? Oh, wait, it’s okay. These are all the little things. (pause) Here’s a question: can a man ask permission for something he’s already done?

BRUCE
No.

REX
No. So you’re not asking permission for the little things? You’re asking permission for the big things. (laughs)

BRUCE
Uh, very clever, Rex.

REX
Are… are you in love with my fiancee?

BRUCE
Ex.

REX
Ex-fiancee.

BRUCE
And, yea.

REX
Well, here’s another question based on your own personal experience. What do you think is overall a stronger force for most human beings? Love or permission? Well, let’s just think. Of all the stories and plays and poems and songs ever written, how many were written about love and how many were written about permission?

BRUCE
Uh, I don’t know, Rex. You tell me.

REX
Here, I’ll try and give you a question that you can answer. Suppose I say that you don’t have my permission. If you really love my fiancee, is that going to make a difference?

BRUCE
I don’t really know.

REX
So you’re not really asking permission for anything, are you, Bruce? Not for the little things, because we know you didn’t wait for me on those, and not for the big things, which are more powerful than any force on earth. So what I’m wondering is, if you’re not asking for permission, what are you doing?

BRUCE
Look, I’m sorry I even tried, okay? I’ll, uh, I’ll see you at the next--

REX
Destroying a friendship? Maybe. Kicking a man when he’s down? Rubbing it in? These all seem like pretty good possibilities to me. (pause) Bruce… don’t leave. I have the floor!

BRUCE
There is no floor.

REX
The answer is no, by the way. No, you do NOT have my permission!

BRUCE
Screw you, Rex.

REX
Screw you!

BRUCE EXITS.

REX
Okay. I think I handled that pretty well. Rex 1, Bruce O. (laughs)

END SCENE

There have been a couple of spoilers leaked out across the internet for "Rex Is Not Your Lawyer." Someone in November 2009 released "super-secret info (hint: romance!)" when they read the sides from the pilot. In January 2010, a focus group test was conducted at Universal Studios Orlando in Florida, where audience members were invited in to view the show, give their opinions and get paid. (I went through this process once for the movie, "Without a Paddle," which held one of its test viewings at Paramount Studios on Melrose... only without the paid part. I showed up when an actor handed me a flyer, and for every body he put into a seat, he got $10. So I went to do the guy a favor.)

One viewer from Orlando had this to say about David Tennant's acting: "First, David Tennant's American accent is pretty good. Almost House good. Second, his character has that same "hyper" feel as The Doctor where he will be deep in thought and then jump up and around the room explaining himself. Pretty good performance, overall."

[Note: praise for Tennant was also given by people who worked with him on "Rex" in Los Angeles, such as by misionreprogirl, who posted Twitter remarks about David Tennant's American accent: "It was great. The guy next to me didn't realize David was putting on an accent. I got to see the panic attack, so cool which is the 1st part... At the end, the first Assistant Director acknowledged the actors and while some people were already standing, people applauded very loudly and people stood up because they thought David did so well, and most people didn't know who he was." (Along with this site, be sure to visit Davidtennantontwitter.com for more "Rex" updates).]

The Orlando reviewer had less praise to give to the co-stars: "Jeffrey Tambor plays George Bluth after he got out of prison and got medical lessons from Tobias. He wasn't in the episode enough to say if that is a good thing or bad thing but... Jane Curtin is... uggh... just the worst. Not as an actress, but her character. Her parts of the episode just drag. They take forever and don't add anything to the story or to Rex's character. The subplot relationship she has with Tambor is even worse. I hope she gets edited out by the time this gets to television." (This part of the review indicates more of a failure in writing than with the performances or casting. Having read about the secondary characters in various press releases, I think any subplots with these characters could work VERY well because they each have their own quirks. The more well-rounded the characters, the more they can offer unique humor and depth to the show... if handled properly by the writer(s) of future episodes.)

And the plot (some areas are whited out because they are spoilers--the parts left available have already been announced in press releases and are not): "It's your typical lawyer show. The twist is that he can't appear in court any more and his clients aren't as good as him even when he helps (yay, conflict!). All the stuff going on in court would drive a real lawyer crazy because such things don't work and would get you disbarred. Of course, that is the case with most shows like this, so if you don't care about those, you won't care here."

"Rex is engaged to Lindsey Steers (Abigail Spencer) his co-worker at a law firm. He suffers a big panic attack, breaks up with her (for reasons not fully explained), and stops practicing law (for fear he has another attack). His best friend (Jerry O'Connell) also works at the same firm. He starts work as a consultant, helping others represent themselves, and his first case puts him at odds with his old friends. Lindsey is a MacGuffin. She has no point in the story except to get Rex to take his first client. And despite the fact that he takes the case to get back at her, she only appears in a few scenes and never says a word. Jerry O'Connell is actually his opposing council. Yet the show obviously wants us to care about Rex and Lindsey's relationship because at the end of the episode they kiss and there are hints of Lindsey still being in love with Rex. Yet I found it hard to care, since her character is hardly in the episode at all. He may as well have kissed his client."

The overall reaction by the viewer from Orlando is that "Rex" has presented a decent initial concept that both can and should be taken further; it's a sentiment echoed by those who worked on the pilot as well. The actors are all professionals and most (O'Connell, Tambor, Curtin) are already familiar to American audiences from other roles, with David Tennant showing up on U.S. viewers' radar as a definite "one to watch." Their characters, if handled properly by the writers, would be able to drive the show and pique viewer interest for both the main plots and subplots.
One thing IS clear: NBC needs to present a good mix of scripted programs (comedies and dramas) rather than inserting more unwanted reality and news programs into their already-questionable lineup.