You can tell that the makers of Judging Amy are being a little cautious, naming this episode "My Name Is Amy Gray." Sure, it's a line that Amy gives in the episode, but it also acts as a final touch in case the series is not picked up for next season, sort of a "come full circle" gesture. The episode could have easily been called "Changes" or "Ms. Gray Goes To Washington," or maybe "Amy Is Fed Up And Wants To Start A New Life, So If This Is The Last Episode It Will End With A Change, And If It's Not, Then Next Year Will Be Different." You know right off the bat that something is wrong with Amy because she's walking alone in the pouring rain. No one walks alone in the pouring rain on TV or in the movies unless they are depressed and contemplative or confused. Amy is quitting her job and wants to find something else to do with her life. Donna rounds up a bunch of kids that Amy has helped, to convince her to stay, but Amy quits anyway, but not before helping one last kid (though we never do find out what happened to him). Meanwhile, Ignacio proposes to Maxine, who wants to adopt a 9 year old girl she saved. All in all, a fairly solid episode to end on (and I do think the show is ending). An especially nice touch: having Amy call someone she wished was in D.C. with her, and we all assume it was her mom because they just had a confrontation, but it's actually Bruce, who shows up at the last minute in to be with her! I really thought they were going to just dump the Bruce character for some reason, so that was a great surprise. Judging Amy: My Name Is Amy Gray
You can tell that the makers of Judging Amy are being a little cautious, naming this episode "My Name Is Amy Gray." Sure, it's a line that Amy gives in the episode, but it also acts as a final touch in case the series is not picked up for next season, sort of a "come full circle" gesture. The episode could have easily been called "Changes" or "Ms. Gray Goes To Washington," or maybe "Amy Is Fed Up And Wants To Start A New Life, So If This Is The Last Episode It Will End With A Change, And If It's Not, Then Next Year Will Be Different." You know right off the bat that something is wrong with Amy because she's walking alone in the pouring rain. No one walks alone in the pouring rain on TV or in the movies unless they are depressed and contemplative or confused. Amy is quitting her job and wants to find something else to do with her life. Donna rounds up a bunch of kids that Amy has helped, to convince her to stay, but Amy quits anyway, but not before helping one last kid (though we never do find out what happened to him). Meanwhile, Ignacio proposes to Maxine, who wants to adopt a 9 year old girl she saved. All in all, a fairly solid episode to end on (and I do think the show is ending). An especially nice touch: having Amy call someone she wished was in D.C. with her, and we all assume it was her mom because they just had a confrontation, but it's actually Bruce, who shows up at the last minute in to be with her! I really thought they were going to just dump the Bruce character for some reason, so that was a great surprise. 
Six Mad Men characters who are in limbo after the finale
Fact or Fiction: Big Bang, Brothers & Sisters and CSI
The TV Squad Podcast: Linda Purl talks about The Office, we talk spoilers, and more
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-02-2005 @ 10:16PM
Jan Lewis said...
I just discovered Judging Amy was cancelled. I am really sorry to hear that as it was one of the few s=tv shows that I consistently watched. I loved the characters, especially , Maxine and Amy.
Please reconsider.
Reply
11-10-2005 @ 12:40PM
Vicki said...
I cannot believe Judging Amy has been cancelled. It was one of few shows worth watching. It was never dull or unrealistic. I loved every character and felt I knew them intimately. I cried for 2 days after Richard Crenna died. I laughed for 2 days after Maxine went to Anger Management Class. Tyne Daly was spectacular. What a low down, crying shame.
Reply
11-14-2005 @ 4:01PM
Sally Kennedy said...
What a year, Lost husband of 43 years Judging Amy and Jag. These were both shows with good writing and exellent actors. Can't believe that CBS would do this and wonder if the Actors were burned out?
Reply
11-15-2005 @ 5:37PM
Fay Rauser said...
I am sooooo sorry you cancelled Judging Amy, it was my favorite show and I know all my friends and family loved it also. Please bring it back!!!!
Thanks
Reply
12-15-2005 @ 4:12PM
jwest said...
I know I'm a little late to the party, but I finally decided to check on line when, puzzled week after week by my inability to catch my favorite show in CBS's new line-up, I could no longer ignore an insistent suspicion that another ground-breaking, innovative, creative, touching, and hilarious drama had become victim to network short-sightedness and greed. Alas, my suspicions were not unfounded. I am so disappointed in CBS! (Though I can't say I'm surprised. Actual artistic merit is rarely an adequate barometer of network programming choices.) This is one twenty-something who preferred CBS when it was catering to an "older" audience.
Reply
12-16-2005 @ 12:22AM
mharris said...
Like the previous comment I'm late to the "party". I wondered in the Fall why Judging Amy wasn't showing, but kept waiting for it. Then suspected something stinky when I started seeing some of the actors guesting on other shows. After seeing at least 4 of them on other shows I knew Judging Amy was gone. However I didn't realize it had been cancelled! How stupid of CBS. This was the ONLY CBS show I watched. I loved the interaction of the characters. Cried when Richard Crenna died, was happy when Cheech Marin came into the scene and "Maxine" started opening up to him, had been waiting for the whole Bruce and Amy thing to finally happed since they had such chemistry. Who actually gets "polled" or monitered to come up with these ratings? I never have!! CBS has nothing to draw me to it's network other than my occasional viewing of "Still Standing", but I hardly even watch that. The least they can do is the 2 hour wrap up movie that's been suggested. Or some type of spin off.
Reply
6-16-2005 @ 4:18PM
Alberta Vigil said...
Please, please do not cancel Judging Amy. It is one of the few shows on TV that has any character. Also, I am so glad that AMy has changed her fashion to more sophisticated clothes. What she was wearing at the beginning of the 2004-05 season was too flashy for a judge.
Reply
6-16-2005 @ 4:18PM
Ami said...
I really, really hope that CBS does not cancel Judging Amy. It is one of my favorite shows, and the only legal drama that focuses on the juvenile system. It is a great show, and should be renewed!
Even though Law and Order SVU is also one of my favorite shows, and it is on in the same timeslot as Judging Amy, I ALWAYS choose to watch Judging Amy over SVU, especially since they repeat the NBC broadcast of SVU on Sunday nights on the USA network.
I LOVE Judging Amy, and I really don't want it cancelled! There aren't any other shows like that out there!
Reply
6-16-2005 @ 4:18PM
Linda Polk said...
Judging Amy has been the only show I consistently watch since it's inception. Although I have added two new shows to my list, Amy is still at the top. It appeared to me, to be setting up a new direction, not finishing the series. There are so many good story lines to be had with Amy in congress, Maxine married and a foster parent, Vince continuing to grow as an advocate for the prisoners and a writer, the whold thing with Bruce and Amy. Why stop now when there are whole wonderful stories to be told. Is there no one else to contact to voice my opinion, do the networks listen?
Reply
6-16-2005 @ 4:19PM
Marian Wells said...
Started watching JUDGING AMY when TNT showed past shows. Could not wait till the past shows started from the beginning of the series and was very pleased with all of the shows. Found them to be funny, educational, dramatic, romantic, how families should interact, problems with being a teenage-senior citizen-working mother-drug/alcohol dependency. You realize that even though you have the best education you must really learn to listen to what people are saying. The cast is great and it would be a shame to break them up because CBS does not think they have a winner. Can't CBS reconsider? Or can another network take over? There are still a lot of stories to be told about Amy, Maxine, Vincent, Peter, Gillian, daughters, sons, cousins, co-workers just everybody. Get them back on the air. Thank you, MWells LV
Reply
8-02-2005 @ 11:59PM
Grace Andrews said...
I do not want to see JUDGING AMY cancelled this season. The dynamics of the actors are incredible. I agree that it is advisable to hire new writers as the storyline has gone off the edge a bit, yet the interplay of the actors keeps one rivoted to the screen and hungry for more. I never tire of this show and always choose this program over others...I enjoy Law and Order a lot, but Judging Amy still takes presidence for me. CBS: Please reconsider ...
Reply
8-31-2005 @ 11:45PM
Rosemary Asmus said...
My favorite show. Please don't cancel.
Reply
9-06-2005 @ 8:24PM
Kat said...
Please don't let this wonderful show die. I have to get up at 4:30 in the morning to go to work but I always stayed up late to watch Judging Amy. The cast and storylines were the best on TV.
Reply
9-08-2005 @ 7:09PM
Linda Knosalla said...
Every Tuesday was great anticipating Judging Amy. Even though it was 10 o'clock when it ended, I would call my friend and we would talk about each detail and character. The story lines are so open that you could go on expanding on them for a long time. Do writers run out of ideas earlier than in earlier years? Ask the fans for story lines and they will give you many suggestions. That family was family to some of us. Keep it on the air PLEASE
Reply
9-08-2005 @ 1:51AM
Amanda said...
UGH!!! I'm so annoyed with CBS! I just found out that Judging Amy is cancelled. They could've at least ended it better!! I wish they would reconsider. I went to the website and filed a complaint. I've never done anything like this before but I've never watched a show as seriously as this one either. I'm so upset with this decision. It makes me not want to watch CBS at all even though I like watching a few other shows also. They should have thought this through better.
Reply
9-08-2005 @ 3:21PM
Michelle Butler said...
I am so disappointed that Amy will not be returning. I began watching this show at it's inception and haven't stopped since. Tyne Daly is one of the finest actresses in the world and this role suited her abilities to a T. This show had so much to offer, but last season got a bit off-track which I assume was the catalyst for the decision to end it.
Maybe a spin-off with Tyne Daly and Cheech Marin starring would be an excellent way to continue and allow the other characters to visit.
Reply
9-19-2005 @ 11:10PM
R.Esteban said...
I hope Judging Amy will come back this fall. I think there are far more other CBS shows that deserve to be cancelled.
Reply
9-20-2005 @ 6:37AM
Beckie Chapman said...
I just found out that Judging Amy was cancelled....I was looking to see when the new shows start. It was my #1 favorite show on TV followed by CSI Crime Investigations and Missing Without A Trace. This is going to be a bad season. I'm depressed already. Killing off JA and the character of "Martin" on Missing Without A Trace. Someone suggested a "spin-off" with Tyne Daly and Cheech Marin. That would be good. Tyne Daly is the best actor on TV! Pair her with Cheech Marin for a winning combination. I always looked forward to seeing Judging Amy every week. I didn't care for Vincent's new storyline. They were leading Kyle down a strange path before they gave him the ax. Donna, Bruce and Sean were under used actors who are fantastic. Donna had just become an attorney. There was storyline potential right there. I always hope Donna would find her special guy. She was such a warm wonderful character. How about just giving Amy the "heave-ho" and keeping the rest of the cast. Amy could be kidnapped by foreign terrorist or decided to move to China! We should lose all the potential and possibilities just over Amy? Come on CBS, you are throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Reply
9-24-2005 @ 10:23AM
Amy Elder said...
I can not believe that Judging Amy was Cancelled!! It is one of best shows if not the best show that CBS has. Plase let it have at least one more season!
Reply
9-24-2005 @ 12:59PM
Michael Newman said...
GIVE ME A BREAK, CBS! Apparently the "official" reason that CBS gave for cancelling the extremely popular Judging Amy with baby boomers (in the millions) - was because they did not attrract the "younger audience" they wanted! So goodbye CBS, for they only look at the shortcome profits from their stupid unreliable rating system (which they rarely ask any fans). The long term profits are in syndication rights and royalties (such as the reruns on TNT and sales from DVD Season Sets!
It took my wife 2 years to record on DVD every episode of LEAVE IT TO BEAVER and PERRY MASON. She also has ALL of the Judging Amy on DVD.
But we would have purchased the studio version of a DVD set, had they been smart enough to release it!
No, Judging Amy as we know it - is dead because the politics at CBS have never changed.
(I would like a 2-hour movie, as suggested, to wrap up the story.)
Signed,
Michael
(A baby boomer with lots of money to spend)
Reply