Brenneman continues to make the case for CBS' 'Judging Amy'

LOS ANGELES -- Amy Brenneman continues to make the case for "Judging Amy."

Now in its sixth season, the series about a hard-working, free-thinking single mother and family court judge recently won its timeslot (9 p.m. Tuesdays) over an original episode of ABC's "NYPD Blue" and a repeat of NBC's "Law & Order: SVU."

The show endures, says Brenneman, the creator and executive producer who also stars as Amy Gray, because it's "grounded in feeling" and nuance of character is uppermost.

"We all understand the need to have plot points and things happening, but we never want that to be so big that a scene about pouring tea would feel odd, because that reality is also part of what we do," she said during a lunch break on the Fox lot.

A few minutes later, Brenneman is shooting a scene for an upcoming episode titled "Happy Birthday" with Tyne Daly, who plays social worker Maxine, Amy's formidable mother and housemate.

Setting an early-morning cup of tea in front of her daughter, Maxine asks, "How are you feeling, dear?" Her tone signals she knows Amy is undergoing a personal crisis.

But Amy insists she's fine, and plans to go to work as usual.

Amy's daughter, Lauren, played by Karle Warren, also pleads with her mother to take it easy, but gets the same "I'm fine" reaction.

The production call sheet describes the scene as "Amy Carries On." The next one, set in her courtroom chambers, is called "Don't Clear My Docket."

It's an apt crystallization of the series' focus on the juxtaposition of home and work, constantly exploring Gray's responsibility to her role as a judge, striving to make wise decisions about other people's lives whatever her own problems may be.

Back in 1996, Brenneman and husband Brad Silberling (director of "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events") were making a video as a present for the 70th birthday of her mother, a Connecticut Superior Court judge.

"We spent two days in the court talking with lawyers and probation officers. They were so funny and so warm, and I remember turning to Brad and saying, 'This is a TV show,"' Brenneman said.

But she never thought this blend of "court stories and a personal odyssey about three generations of family" would fly because "it was my idea and my self-esteem is shaky at best."

Producer Helen Shaver, director of the "Happy Birthday" episode, speaks effusively of Brenneman's "commitment" and work ethic, which has created "an amazing atmosphere where the female voice is heard so strongly."

"Amy is so admirable ... she is creator, executive producer and star of a successful series in its sixth year. I guess if anyone has a right to be a diva it would be her, but there is never any of that. This woman leads with her heart, and her intelligence is right there behind it."

Brenneman, now 40 and mother of a 3-year-old daughter, believes her attraction to acting stems from her early recognition that it was her own thing, not related to the legal profession, practiced not just by her mother but also her father.

"It was mine," she said, recounting the thrill of being on stage at age 11 in the chorus of "The Music Man." Even then, she felt character more than plot: "I think I had some special hand gesture they took away from me."

Her first TV role was as the club singer Blanche in the short-lived series "Middle Ages" in 1992. She then attracted attention in a revealing love scene with David Caruso on the premiere season of "NYPD Blue."

Her role as police officer Janice Licalsi went on to earn her a best-supporting actress Emmy nomination, and she picked up another nomination the next season as guest actress. "Judging Amy" has earned her three best-actress nominations.