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Producers discuss 'Good Wife' spin-off, new show drawing attention to network's streaming service

'I think this election gave us a spine,' 'Fight' executive producer Michael King said of the upcoming program. 'The Good Fight,' which stars Christine Baranski, premieres on CBS All Access in February.

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Andy Kropa/Invision/AP
Christine Baranski attends the 'The Good Wife' series finale party in New York on April 28, 2016. Baranski stars in the upcoming 'Wife' spin-off 'The Good Fight.'

Those behind the upcoming CBS All Access program “The Good Fight,” which is a spin-off of the critically acclaimed program “The Good Wife,” recently discussed some of the inspiration for the program, which will debut in February and be one of the high-profile programs that the network is no doubt hoping will draw attention to the CBS All Access streaming service. 

“The Good Fight” executive producer Michael King said at the Television Critics Association winter press tour that the program has been influenced by current events. “Fight” centers on “Wife” character Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski), who becomes part of a different law firm. It co-stars Rose Leslie and Cush Jumbo.

“I think this election gave us a spine,” Mr. King said, according to the Associated Press. “What was good, the world changed on us. 'The Good Wife' was a little bit about the Obama years. This gives shape to a new show. This is all going to change, and some say for better, some for worse.” 

Executive producer Michelle King added, “'The Good Wife' was, if you looked for it, a satire of a liberal mindset. So it’s not just anti-Trump, but it’s also a look at how liberals are reacting. It’s more interesting to me to see how the culture changes.”

“Fight,” which will debut on Feb. 19, will air on CBS All Acess, CBS’s paid streaming service, along with such upcoming programs as the upcoming “Star Trek” show “Star Trek: Discovery.” 

CBS All Access is one of the paid streaming services now being offered by broadcast networks in the age of Netflix and Hulu. NBC has also launched a comedy streaming service, Seeso. 

David Sims of The Atlantic wrote that CBS choosing to put “Star Trek: Discovery” on the streaming service could be a good decision, especially with the show airing weekly. “As cable cord-cutting grows more common among younger viewers, networks need to find a new way into their pockets, which is why the weekly cliffhanger may not be going anywhere anytime soon,” Mr. Sims wrote. “’Star Trek’ is about the most bankable streaming TV property imaginable.” 

Meanwhile, Variety writer Cynthia Littleton sees “Fight” as a good acquisition for CBS All Access. “A ‘Good Wife’ spinoff with Baranski would be another marquee property to help drive subscriptions to the service, which sells for $6 a month,” Ms. Littleton writes. “Sending the spinoff to All Access rather than the mothership network is a sign of CBS’ determination to invest in All Access as a distinct programming platform.”

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