The Good Wife: The Best & Worst of Season Three

A Look Back at the Most Memorable Moments

Summer 2012 Hiatus | Post Date: June 16, 2012

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With season three of The Good Wife officially in the record books, it only seems fitting we pause to celebrate the best (and worst) of those 22 glorious episodes.  It was a year that saw fans shrieking with joy (Team Gardner, we got this!) and moments later, covering their faces while repeating, ‘did that just happen?  No really.  Did THAT just happen?!’  Okay, maybe those were *my* reactions, but I like to think I’m not totally alone.  Honesty, did anyone see the whole Wendy Scott-Carr situation ultimately being about Peter?  Who would have predicted the end of Alicia and Will would be as simple as a ringtone?  To that end, whose heart didn't get torn into a million pieces during their breakup?  And last, but certainly not least, who would have thought Kalinda’s husband (ex-husband? Who really knows?) would be the start of her potential undoing?  While K waits at her door, gun close at hand, let's kick back and enjoy some of season three's most memorable moments.

Best Guest Star - Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni

“Whew!  Look at all this paper.”  It’s a phrase fans of The Good Wife (I swear, it’s not just me!) have incorporated into everyday conversation, all because of the brilliantly whimsical and stunningly clever Elsbeth Tascioni.  She was hired by Will on Alicia’s recommendation and outsmarted Wendy Scott-Carr in court and outside a play about dancing bears.  All I can say is: ‘Someone, please get this woman an invite to the Lockhart Gardner Christmas Party!’ – just imagine the hilarity that would ensue!  Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni is dynamic and charming… and strangely makes me yearn for more legal debauchery so she can grace our screens again.  I can’t help but think: Elsbeth having to defend Kalinda would be outrageously entertaining.  “Whew!  Look at all these uncashed cheques and stacks of money…”

Worst Story – The Florrick Homestead in Highland Park

The truth be told, I had to toss a coin to decide this one.  Heads was Alicia on the teeter-totter of her old Highland Park home; tails was Grace getting fauxnapped by Internet Jesus.  Oh how I long for the days of season one when Zach and Grace were channeling their PI skills and doing something useful.  *Sigh* Heads won, so it was decided: The back and forth on the Highland Park house was enough to make even Eli want to scream (which is saying something, since he specializes in mitigating disasters).  The house continues to provide an interesting device for a story arc as we head into season four and Peter makes a run for Governor.  With Jackie’s money tied to the house and Peter committed to doing yard work when he’s not trying to take out Mike Krevesta (Matthew Perry) at the knees, the idea of ‘can you ever go home?’ seems to be a theme the writers desperately want us to conquer.

Best Random Resurfacing Character (Single Episode) – Tammy
Okay, okay.  I know what you’re thinking. “Tammy?!  Really?!”  Oh yes, I’m not kidding.  Anyone who can elicit such dramatic expressions from Alicia deserves an honorable mention.  Not only that, she rocks journalist chic in an epic way.  While it’s no secret I’m a Team Gardner fan, for reasons I cannot explain, I have always found myself to be intrigued by Tammy’s character and how she fits into the bigger picture. 

Best Judge – Linda Emond as Leora Kuhn

Colonel Leora Kuhn, aka, Will’s arch nemesis in the land of military justice.  Her demeanor is dry but her wit is sharp and if there’s one thing she’s serious about, it’s making Will uncomfortable.   In many cases Will is able to charm and persuade not just Judges, but everyone (let’s not forget, he IS one of Chicago’s most eligible bachelors).  With Leora Kuhn, the opposite is true and it makes for deliciously awkward and hysterical scenes.  Season three’s “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” prominently featured Kuhn and, for those of you keeping score, Lockhart Gardner didn’t win the case that went before her, despite a well-fought argument (and the beloved Captain Terrance Hicks).  Let’s hope the military gets roped into something next year.  Double points if Elsbeth and Will have to team up and go before Kuhn together.

Most frustrating character – Eli Gold

Now, don’t get me wrong.  In general, I love Eli.  He’s a public relations mastermind and his snappy dressing is second to none.  Unfortunately, this season posed a challenge for his character.  With no active campaigns, Eli was left floundering between crisis management and the brink of his own insanity.  Take, for example, the fact he spent the last quarter of the season trying to undermine his former ally, Diane.  We were never really given the full story as to why Eli wanted to oust Diane from named partnership, but the best thing to come from that story line was seeing him butt-heads with David Lee.  With the exception of Eli’s gig at the Dairy Association, his bed-side visit to Jackie and a smattering of brilliant one-liners, Eli Gold was a mere shell of his former self.  I can’t wait for his season four redemption, back in campaign mode and not crying over spilled milk.

Best Scene – “It’s a surprise party for you”
This category was almost impossible, but I had to challenge myself to come up with a single moment in time that I loved above all others.  Here goes:

Episode 3.22: “The Dream Team”

Location: The elevator (because, let's face it, that's where all the best things happen) followed by the reception area on the 28^th floor at Lockhart Gardner

Scene:  Will and Peter end up on the same elevator and engaged in awkward conversation. When the doors open, Alicia is there to greet them both.  Enter Eli who doesn’t know what to say to the Florrick/Gardner/Florrick team when Cary comes into the scene balancing a banker’s box on one knee while trying to shake Peter’s hand.  Through the group rolls Patti Nyholm’s baby who Will calls ‘their new associate’ and then, *ding* the elevator doors open to reveal Kalinda.

Why this scene was so great: It was a collision of, at minimum, five storylines at one time.  It was brilliantly scripted and exquisitely filmed.  Beyond that, this scene boiled so much of the show down to one key theme: Nothing is ever simple – we live in shades of grey.  It’s something Alicia mentioned at the beginning of season one and it’s a quote that continues to permeate the stories on The Good Wife each week.  

Best Overall Performance - Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart
There is little I can say that will do any justice to Baranski's excellence this year.  The character of Diane Lockhart has been strong since day one, but season three was the year for Baranski to shine.  Not only was she the glue that held Lockhart Gardner together, she defended Will's professional integrity, brought a legal aid organization into the firm and dated two men... at the same time.  She's like superwoman but in Stuart Weitzman heels. If ever there was a time to honor this actress with an Emmy, this would be the year.

Top Six Episodes - The Season's Best... In My Opinion
According to a recent article, The Good Wife has submitted 10 episodes for Emmy consideration.  That's 45% of their total shows this season.  Now, let's be honest.  I'm not great at narrowing things down and readers of this blog can all attest that brevity isn't my forte.  Noting this, how was I able to boil things down when the writers and producers couldn't?  It's simple.  I used a formula.  I don't want to get into specifics, but it involved a precise calculation of moments that made me laugh, clap, cry and cover my face while shrieking. I gave bonus points for scenes and episodes that did all four, especially when they did so simultaneously.  It's very scientific.

• Feeding the Rat - While Alicia is tackling a complicated pro-bono case, Will, Peter and Celeste are all busy attending a local conference.  The result?  An outrageous charade.  Also, Will drops an 'I love you' into conversation with Alicia.  Needless to say, I adore everything about this episode. 
• Executive Order 13224 - Alicia lands in hot water with the Treasury Secretary Monitor (the cupcake loving Mr. Higgs) and she hires Elsbeth Tascioni to help her from winding up in prison.
• Alienation of Affection - "You've been served."  Three little words that haunt everyone at Lockhart Gardner as Diane's soon-to-be love interest, Jack Copeland, shows up around Chicago delivering ominous manila envelopes.
• Another Ham Sandwich - Two words: Grand Jury.
• After the Fall - Will's suspension is official and his sisters arrive to comfort him during his time of need.  Hilarity ensues.  Rewatch count: Probably shouldn't admit.
• Blue Ribbon Panel - Alicia and Kalinda finally begin to connect about the mysterious tax file, but before long, Alicia gets pulled onto a Blue Ribbon Panel and finds herself looking for justice while defending herself from sociopath, Mike Kresteva.

Season Three Honourable Mentions - Most Memorable Moments
What can I say?  There are a few things I can't help but mention again...

• Alicia and Will at his apartment in the season premiere. Should they go to his room?  No.  The cabinet at the front door works just as well.  This was quite possibly the steamiest scene of season three (that is, depending on how you felt about Kalinda getting "flexible" with Lana...)
• Alicia’s infamous “Mom pick up the phone” ringtone exposing her relationship with Will. (Urgh. Will I ever be over this?  Unlikely.  I’m holding out hope for a season five Team Gardner reunion.  Who's with me?)
• David Lee coming to work in his HMS Pinafore costume
• Cary and Kalinda sharing a kiss
• Will saying, "I love you" to Alicia
• Diane confronting Will about his relationship with Alicia in the ‘we’re ousting Bond’ rooftop courtyard
• Alicia walking out of the courtroom during the grand jury showdown versus Wendy Scott-Carr
• Will’s sisters come to town and make every moment with their brother on-screen magic
• Kalinda getting arrested
• Will and Diane dancing around Lockhart Gardner to Audra Mae's 'Here I Go Again'
• Peter deciding to run for Governor 
• Alicia returning to Highland Park and remembering her former life
• Kalinda and Alicia finally sharing a drink together <insert jazz hands and tequila shots>
• Kalinda sledge hammering her bedroom wall/pulling up a chair to await her husband's  impending visit, gun close at hand

A Note of Thanks 

I’m particularly fond of season three because my love for all things The Good Wife came together in the form of this blog.  It brought some wonderful new friends into my life and helped me reconnect with those with whom I’d lost touch.  A special thanks to everyone who has supported my (occasionally) irrational love of Team Gardner... and to those of you who have celebrated Good Wife Sundays and Mondays with me every step along the way.  Here's to season four - here's to a new day!

Closing Arguments - March 2012

Alicia's iPod Playlist & Poll Results - Why Alicia Shouldn't Return to Highland Park

Season 3 | Post Date: April 13, 2012

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March was packed to the brim with new episodes of The Good Wife and with just three new shows left, it’s time we take a quick look back over the last month.  This means it’s time to update your playlists with songs from The Good Wife and review the results behind our “Why Alicia Shouldn't Return to Highland Park” poll. 

Alicia's iPod Playlist

I’m not going to lie. I haven’t been able to stop playing Audra Mae’s “Here I Go Again” since it was featured in January, but fortunately, March brought with it a few new songs worthy of a playlist upgrade.

From After the Fall

Ombra mai fu |George Frideric Handel (1738) 

Originally featured as the opening aria in Handel’s Serse 

The scene:  As Will sits at home (in a rustic, manly and superbly decorated loft), just days after the grand jury, he finds himself watching a video documentary on suicide for a case on which he is still allowed to comment.  “Ombra mai fu” plays somberly in the background as a young woman throws herself from a bridge.  End scene.

From Long Way Home

Dust Bowl III | Other Lives (2011)

The scene: After hearing her old house in Highland Park is back on the market, Alicia takes an emotional walk through the place she called home for 15 years.  In a performance truly worth of another Emmy, we watch Alicia struggle with the joy and sorrow trapped in each room of the house.  This song is a perfect accompaniment to the heartbreak we all felt as we opened the door to the past with Alicia.  This scene deserves to be watched over and over again.

From Gloves Come Off

My Name is Money | Sonia Leigh (2011)   

The scene: Alicia and Will get together with Frank Michael Thomas (Fred Dalton Thompson) in a bar to discuss a suit Lockhart Gardner is bringing against the NHL.  Thomas, however, is looking for something different, something he can use against Louis Canning in an upcoming class action.  Nothing is ever simple, is it?  At least we can hope Will and Alicia shared a drink before they left the bar… 

Pretty Good | Peasant (2012) 

The scene: Sitting in a different Chicago bar waiting for our favourite process server, Jack, Diane realizes she has been stood up.  What’s a lady to do but go to plan ‘b’ with the lyrics “And all night I was on your mind” playing in the background?  Seizing the moment, Diane decides to call the oft-thought about ballistics expert, Kurt McVeigh.  If there's one person who deserves to have a little fun (and a night on the town), it's Diane.  The song may have been "Pretty Good," but Diane of late has been more like Pretty Great.

From Blue Ribbon Panel  

November 1, 1832 (featuring Jesy Fortino) | Balmorhea (2009) 

The scene: With encouragement from her realtor, Alicia decides to write a heartfelt letter to the woman selling the old Florrick house, in the hopes it will give her offer an edge.  As Alicia struggles to write the letter, as an audience, we similarly struggle watching her go back down memory lane.  Warning: This song is intense but beautiful – listen only if you are prepared to feel a little morose.

For more songs from The Good Wife, check out Tune Find. 

The Results:  Why you, the readers, don’t think Alicia should return to Highland Park

In case you missed it, I’ve been stewing over this whole “Alicia moving” debacle since the story first surfaced and I couldn’t help but put together a list of reasons why I thought going back to Highland Park was a bad idea (click here if you missed it). Having had the poll up for just over two weeks, the results are in!  You, the readers of Lockhart Gardner: An Inside Look at The Good Wife, have voted and in doing so, helped me rank the reasons why Alicia should take Highland Park off her radar and focus on her future:

From my perspective, the only thing this list is missing is the obvious #9: The fact living in her old house would be awkward when things with Will finally work out.  Oh for the love of Team Gardner *sigh.*

Next Up (Note: Spoiler Alert)

The wait is finally over!  April 15 is boasting the first of three episodes that will marathon through the finale on April 29.  In the upcoming “Pants on Fire” (formerly titled “No Ordinary Lie”), things will pick up right where they left off with Jackie and Alicia in the beauty salon.  Word on the street is that Alicia recruits Kalinda to help her with the Jackie problem, but it might not be quick enough as Peter has a thing or two to say about his mother’s interference in his life.  Meanwhile, Mike is back to give Peter a run for his money, Cary is back to join Lockhart Gardner and an old “friend” of Will’s (Cassie), enters the scene and is looking for a date.  Get out your paper bags, stress balls and memories of the season two finale (elevator fireworks anyone?) – the final three episode of this season are set to be explosive.

"After the Fall"

Episode Title: After the Fall

Season 3, Episode 16 | Original Air Date: March 4, 2012

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Some of my favourite moments from The Good Wife happen when the characters make me laugh, clap and cover my face while shrieking.  I give extra points when they do all three, especially when they do so simultaneously.  Welcome to the wonderful world of meeting Will’s sisters, Aubrey and Sara.  Did I clap?  Oh sure.  Did I proclaim my love of this new story line development?  I think probably six times in less than an hour.  Did I cover my face?  Well, yes… didn’t you?  Sure, Will is suspended for six months, but if that means we get to see him kicking back, writing the next great American legal novel, playing guitar and sipping a mid-day beer while clad in boot cut jeans and an unbuttoned button-up shirt as one of his many clothing layers, I’m game.  Who said this was going to be a bad thing?

Let me cut to the chase.  I would love to dedicate this entire post to Will, his sisters and his apartment (which, by the way, is completely amazing.  Did we know Will had so much interior design style sense?)… but I won’t, because that wouldn’t be fair to the other outstanding developments in “After the Fall.” 

In My Opinion – Episode Commentary

Will is gone, which means everyone wants a piece of what he left behind: his office, his clients, his place on the stationery.  No one mentioned it, but I’m pretty sure someone wants that beloved baseball he throws around when he’s working late and trying to get to the bottom of a case.  While Diane is working to balance the management re-org, she’s also fending off a group of hungry and ambitious equity partners:  Julius, David and Eli.  It seems to me there’s a metaphor about wildebeest, lions and a waterhole hiding somewhere within this story arc, but I’m not going there.  Oh wait.  In any case, as it turns out, with Will gone, everyone wants the same things from Diane but for different reasons.  Let’s break it down: 

Julius Cain

Julius is after the brand.  He wants name recognition because he thinks Will’s character is so tarnished the firm will suffer.  In point of fact, we learn that none of Will’s clients jumped ship because of the suspension, but Julius needs an angle and this seems like his best shot at getting on the stationery.   As head of litigation, Julius certainly has a prestigious place in the firm and while Diane knows he’s less of a loose cannon than, say, David Lee, he’s no Will Gardner.  When we look at the facts, it seems Julius is most concerned about his reputation: If the firm looks bad, he looks bad.  Getting rid of Will’s name equals getting rid of the dirty laundry.

David Lee

David is after named partnership, but only until Will returns and only because he doesn’t want anyone else to have it.  Let’s face it: David only gets along with a handful of people at the firm and it’s not because he can’t be friendly, it’s simply because doesn’t like to and he thinks it’s a waste of time.  That is, until he needs or wants something.  With Will’s recent departure David is after anything that will keep other people off of the stationery.  He doesn’t want the role of named partner – that would mean dealing with messy things like salaries and middle management – but he needs the role, just to ensure no one else gets ahead.  I do have more than a few reservations about his alleged commitment to getting all of the benefits of named partnership and then giving them back when Will returns.  David is sly and his word is more than a little unreliable… in my opinion.

Eli Gold

Eli is after a full-time job and heightened status.  With Peter’s campaign more uncertain than ever, Eli is looking for something bigger on which to hang his hat.  Or, at least I think that’s what he’s after.  In some ways, I think Eli just wants to get all of the equity partners together to vote on things (For example: Who should fill the vacuum Will has left behind?  Who gets his parking spot? Should the office invest in flavoured coffee?).  Now Eli has a few allies in the office (note: Julius) he thinks he can overthrow Diane whenever the going gets tough.  I tend to think Diane has a greater band of followers than Eli could possibly have, but with everything in a state of flux, the forecast for Lockhart and Associates is uncertain.

Meanwhile, over at the State’s Attorney’s Office, Peter is getting schooled by Eli on how to make friends and influence people (a lesson, strangely, he learned from Diane who he is now trying to throw under the bus).  It seems the friends Peter had during his campaign are disappointed in his lack of commitment to giving them jobs when he took office.  Feeling pressure to secure the keynote address at the Democratic Convention, Peter succumbs to his former ways and hires on an old friend.  Unfortunately, the task falls to Cary to tell hardworking Geneva Pine that she’s being moved around the department.  This was a particularly interesting turn of events, as now Cary now sees the darker, more sinister side of Peter.  When Cary asked Peter about his decision, Peter retorted by saying, “No, I don’t want any consultation, I just want you to do it.”  I can’t help but think that Cary is feeling just as Alicia did in her marriage.  Some very interesting parallels are being written and I have a feeling Cary will come to the same breaking point as Alicia before too long.

Oh for the Love of Sisters

Will is lucky to have some incredible women in his life and after this week, I can’t help but think he’s so good with the opposite sex because of how he grew up: With two sisters surrounding him with love, while simultaneously being at his throat and nipping at his heels, Will’s suave nature is something that was likely born out of survival more than anything else.  Enter Aubrey, Will’s younger sister who heard about his situation and arrived from who knows where, with a suitcase in her hand and a guitar on her back, to spend some quality time in Will’s impeccably stylish apartment. Before long, Alicia phoned Will to catch up on a case and from the background, Aubrey quickly called Will out on using his “sweet voice” with the woman on the other end of the phone.  It’s official.  Aubrey is Will’s version of Alicia's Owen.  At this point, I had to exclaim, “Of course it’s his sweet voice, he’s talking to Alicia.  Team Gardner!”  *Sigh*

Before long, the next bombshell in Will’s personal life exploded: Sweet, good natured Aubrey called in backup with Will’s other sister, Sara.  Together they are a whirlwind of hilarity and embarrassment… especially when Kalinda came over and they mistook her for Will’s girlfriend (thinking she was the one he was using his “sweet voice” on earlier).  Riffling through yearbooks and the internet to track down Will’s past girlfriends, they also reorganized his kitchen and tried convincing him that in five years he won’t be so cute anymore, so he better settle down and get serious.

The insanity of Will’s sisters push him out the door (but only because Kalinda couldn’t have them arrested as Will had hoped) and so he headed to the place he’s most comfortable: the office.  Diane welcomed him with open arms while Eli and Julius lurked outside watching the reunion…

Farm Girls from Michigan

Oh yes, let’s not forget this is a legal drama, so there was a case this week (though it was probably the least important part of the entire show).  Nancy Crozier was back in full force, using her I’m so innocent because I’m just a farm girl from Michigan moves until Alicia “out blonded” her and put the similarly faux-innocent, Caitlin, in as a true testament to her astute reading of Judge Serena.  The case had to do with a documentary film maker (played by The Ice Truck Killer from Dexter) who was being accused of romanticizing suicide and encouraging people to pitch themselves off local bridges.  Lockhart and Associates set out to prove that while cameras were set up on the bridge, capturing suicides had to do with bringing awareness to a bigger issue and didn’t have anything to do with turning his film into the next Titanic.  Alicia did the smartest thing she could: she put Caitlin in against Nancy in order to the play to the judge: yes, it was a battle of the blondes.  Fortunately for Alicia, the plan worked beautifully and Caitlin excelled at playing fresh and naïve… unfortunately it backfired in some ways as Diane then gave Caitlin a promotion and told Alicia she had to share her assistant.  Sure, Alicia earned points for being a good mentor, but with Caitlin moving up the ranks, Alicia senses trouble.  I have a feeling she’s longing for the days when she was up against Cary Agos (and in many ways, with what’s happening at the State’s Attorney’s Office, I have a feeling he wishes he was simply up against Alicia, too).

Quotes of the Week:

Kalinda: "Will, when I leave, you aren’t going to curl up in a little ball and cry, are you?”

Aubrey: "Who's that? You've got your sweet voice on." 

Will: "Ssshhhh. I do not." 

Aubrey: "Yes you do."

Will: "Okay, I'm going to go over here and... talk to myself." 

Sara: "Wait. What about a girlfriend? Why aren't you seeing someone?" 

Aubrey: "He is! The woman on the phone."  

Sara: "Who's she?" 

Aubrey: "Some lawyer. Makes him upset when we talk about it."  

Sara: "Does it Will?  Who is she?" 

Will: "How long are you two staying?" 

Sara: "Where's your year book?  There was some girls in high school, remember?" 

Aubrey: "No. He likes younger women."

David Lee: “I don’t hate people… I hate some people.”

Eli: “We can out vote you.” 

Diane: “We?”

Eli: “Me and my fostered relationships.” 

Diane: “So you’re no longer the last kid picked for the mutiny. Congratulations.”

Diane: “You lasted a full week. I’m impressed.” 

Will: “Could have lasted longer. You have my sisters to thank for that.” 

Diane: “I’ll send flowers.”

What’s next?

Things are heating up next week, and I, for one, can’t wait.  Colin Sweeney returns (which must make Alicia want to lose her mind) and he is being accused of fathering a former employee’s child.  It’s a case of sexual misconduct and it could impact Sweeney’s plans to secure control of his company once more.  As a simple observation, I have to say that Colin Sweeney gets more time in the courtroom than most lawyers do.  He can’t stay out of trouble.  It’s a good thing there is a rule about Double Jeopardy, otherwise Sweeney would have a case to set up a Murphy bed in the janitor’s closet for a quick commute every morning.  Bebe Neuwirth also guest stars as a new judge.

Related to this Post:

• Food Inspired by The Good Wife: Dinner with the sisters - Mexican Cheesecake
• The Good Wife – On Location Take Two (check out the outside of Will’s apartment!)
• Catching up: Episode 15 – “Live from Damascus”
• Preview: Episode 17 – “Long Way Home”

The Good Wife: On Location in NYC - Take Three

On Location in NYC – Take Three (Brooklyn Edition)
Featured Episode: "Blue Ribbon Panel"

On-site filming February 23, 2012 | Post Date: March 2, 2012 | Updated: March 6 & 25, 2012

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When The Good Wife takes to the streets of New York to film, you never know where they’ll turn up next.  Part of the fun of finding an on-site filming is that you get an inside look at how they transform New York City into Chicago.  During my latest expedition, I discovered an incredible area I’d never explored, including one of Brooklyn’s landmark buildings, not to mention an entire street filled with trailers devoted to The Good Wife.  Yes, this was the location where Matthew Perry was spotted… but who else was on site?  Let’s just say, it looks like things in Cook County are going to be heating up.

This was my third on-location experience (okay, the fourth, but the third time was a total wash, so I’ve decided not to count it) and this time I was taken to a world I haven’t explored nearly enough: Park Slope in Brooklyn, NY.  Just a few short stops from Manhattan’s Financial District, Park Slope is a gorgeous neighborhood full of amazing walk-ups, quaint streets and perhaps one of my favourite New York architectural finds of late: The Montauk Club.  This beautiful building, complete with stained glass windows and Venetian Gothic construction, was built in 1891 and is soon to be one of the sets featured on The Good Wife.

Of course, there are always so many things to spot during an on-location shoot, including hints on future guest stars, that I had to take pictures so I could share the experience.  With that, I present “The Good Wife – On Location in NYC – Take Three,” a photographic journey. I hope you enjoy!

The Montauk Club (2012) with The Good Wife crew setting up lights and other equipment to
shoot a scene on the main floor.  Based on descriptions of the interior of The Montauk Club,
I can only imagine how beautiful these scenes are going to be!

The Montauk Club (unknown date) - New York architect, Francis H. Kimball, was responsible
for some of New York's most notable commercial buildings that dot the city's skyline, in
addition to The Montauk Club.

It looks like our "judges in question" (Dunaway and Winter) from Will's judicial bribery debacle are
back on the scene, and based on the number of other guest stars roaming around the Montauk Club,
the final result will be truly incredible. 

(Top to bottom, L-R) - Trailer doors for characters: Eric, Russel, Forrest Burke, Trina Coffey, Fred and Pastor Yarrow
(Charles Dutton).  It's official: We know none of these characters.  That said, it appears whatever is happening with Mike (Matthew Perry) and Alicia (Julianna Margulies) during this scene, is also happening with all of these people, too.

Set up to shoot inside the Montauk Club.  If my observations are accurate, we're going
to see some stunning stained glass in the background of these scenes.

Interested in more information on the beautiful Montauk Club?  Check out montaukclub.com 
for a virtual tour and plenty of historical facts

As always, thank you to On Location Vacations for their great tips on filming sites around New York City.
For other fan photos from this taping of The Good Wife, click here.

Update

CBS just released photos from Matthew Perry's time on The Good Wife set, including a great image of the judges, Alicia and Mike (Perry) as part of a panel investigating a police shooting.  Here we see some of the amazing stained glass of the Montauk Club.

Episode: "Blue Ribbon Panel: | Photo courtesy of David Russell/CBS.com

What's Next?

Will's sisters arrive in town in episode 16, "After the Fall" (check out some behind the scenes fun with "The Good Wife: On Location in NYC - Take Two" for more details!) and he has to begin to figure out what the next six months are going to look like without being able to practice law.  March is also full of outstanding guest stars on The Good Wife: Bebe Neuwirth (guest judge) Matthew Perry (new attorney: Mike Kresteva), Michael J. Fox (the ever sly but insightful Louis Canning), Mamie Gummer (the somewhat conniving yet brilliant blonde, Nancy Crozier) and Dylan Baker (aka, Colin Sweeney, the murderer Alicia can't seem to get away from), just to name a few.  Whew! Forget about basketball, for fans of The Good Wife, it looks like we're in for some serious March madness!

Related to this article:

• Catch up on episode 15, "Live from Damascus"
• The Latest Briefs - All news that is news from the world of The Good Wife