He’s very good looking (the pictures don’t do him justice).  He’s quite charming.  Now, he’s getting his own show, and he didn’t even have to launch a balloon to do it.  It’s just not fair.

According to this story, from the Hollywood Reporter, Scott Sternberg Productions is partnering with Weinberger Media to produce “Legal Ease,” slated to feature a New York firm called Tacopina Siegel & Turano.

The Hollywood Reporter reports that:

[T]he daily reality show will revolve around lawyers giving advice to everyday people. Stories will be shot on location, and advice will be dished out in-studio by Joseph Tacopina, head of the firm (pictured), and a panel of legal eagles.

Nothing personal toward Chad Seigel or Turano (whoever he is), but this is the Joe Tac show all the way.  And it’s not just that he’s got a sweet Italian sports car, or the $6,500 Panerai watch to demonstrate Bernie Kerik’s devotion (as chronicled by my all-time favorite magazine writer, the lovely and brilliant, not to mention most eligible bachelorette, Lisa DePaulo), but that Joe Tac has something that few others possess, and no amount of trying will ever develop.  Joe Tac’s a star.

It’s not that Joe is a legal philosopher, drawing those in desperate need of metaphysical healing toward the light.  It’s not that Joe is considered one of the great legal intellectuals, brilliant in his knowledge of the law and nuanced understanding of jurisprudence.  It’s that Joe, for better or worse, is one of those rare people who simply stand out from the crowd. 

His success as a criminal defense lawyer is certainly remarkable, and he’s not afraid to charge for the pleasure (as well he should).  He handles an interview with surgical skill, knowing when to turn on that boyish charm to deflect the unanswerable without infuriating the viewer.  Sure he’s had some blows in his career, but no real trial lawyer doesn’t (except Gerry Spence, which is a different story altogether).  You can’t begrudge a criminal defense lawyer some losers, if he’s really doing his job.

I first heard about this show about a year ago, maybe more.  Overcoming my initial reaction (why don’t they want a nice older lawyer rather than this good-looking, charming kid lawyer?), it was such an obvious choice in this age of reality entertainment.  Of course, Joe’s going to have to get his Crackberry surgically removed from his ear, but those are the concessions one has to make to be a star. 

The last time I was with Joseph was during the ITAP program at Cardozo, when Joe and I were doing a class on advanced cross-examination.  I was listening to the students intently, while Joe was whispering into this shiny thing next to his ear.  It was almost 3 p.m., and I had a meeting that couldn’t be missed, so I announced that I had to leave class, but Joe would take the helm.  The group turned to Joseph, still talking into the shiny thing and frowning as he noticed a dull spot on his mirror-like shoe finish, who suddenly realized that all eyes were on him.  I snickered all the way out of the classroom.  Hey, that’s the price of being a star.

How exactly Joe plans to carry this show while practicing law is a little unclear.  There are some things a practicing lawyer does during the day that really aren’t meant for public consumption, like privately conferring with clients or developing tactics to beat the rap.  While I’ve no doubt it would make for compelling television, I wonder how many clients want their soiled boxers shown on prime time.  Then again, many of Joe’s clients spend their lives seeking the glare of the klieg lights, so having their legal affairs exposed to public scrutiny might not be much of a stretch.

However it happens, I have no doubt that Joe Tacopina will capture the imagination of America.  Way to go, Joe. I’ll be watching.