‘Murder One’: Guilty of ‘Miserable’ Casting

“ ‘Murder One’: Vexing to the Very End” (April 24) was an accurate headline, but Howard Rosenberg’s review overlooked why this crime series annoyed almost everyone who tried to watch it. So . . .

Memo to Stephen Bochco:

* The Simpson case killed more than two innocent people--it killed the public’s belief in the existence of honorable defense lawyers (like the fictional Perry Mason) or that a private defense attorney (e.g. Robert Shapiro) makes any real “search for justice.”

* Your casting was miserable. Eggheaded actor Daniel Benzali is no warm, cuddly Raymond Burr. That icy stare and weird personality make him as likable as Bela Lugosi, so why cast him as a moralizing hero? And how could anybody not identify his legal adversary from the D.A.’s office (played by your beautiful and talented wife, Barbara Bosson) with real lawyer Marcia Clark? Since both come across as sincere and honest, it was painful to see her character hurt and betrayed in this script, like Ms. Clark in court.

* Your plot was a disjointed muddle. Worst of all, who wrote the silly, amateurish, drug-lord ending? Johnnie Cochran, Robert Shapiro or Snoopy?

* You did achieve excellent production, lighting, camera shots etc., so watching “Murder One” was interesting--if one turned off the sound and lost the goofy plot and dialogue.

* If a second season: Fire those writers. If a new trial, give the lead (and victory) to Miss Bosson, a superb actress who deserves better parts and scripts.

ETHEL STROUPE VOCHKO

Laguna Niguel