It's always a tricky thing when a TV show changes its focus. For instance, to take an example near and dear to our hearts, The X-Files has morphed a little this season, following their relocation from Vancouver to Hollywood and the blockbuster movie released last summer; several fans now refer to the show as "X-Files Lite," "The X-Files Comedy Hour," "Will Scully and Mulder Ever Kiss," etc. The show now appears to be written more for new viewers than for the die-hards (yes, even last Sunday's "Full Disclosure" episode felt that way), and the results are mixed. A similar paradigm shift is also taking place on "Redmond Justice," as the show transforms from a tough, gritty courtroom drama into a farcical comedy. You can thank Microsoft's legal team for that; blunder after blunder have taken most of the suspense out of the trial, since even many of Microsoft's heartiest supporters now feel that the Redmond Giant doesn't stand a chance of winning. Faithful viewer Steve Pissocra pointed out a Seattle Times article that discusses this phenomenon further.

Apparently several of the "economic and legal scholars" that Microsoft themselves name as "authorities" on the case now feel that while the case should never have been brought against Microsoft in the first place, the government is very likely to win thanks to Microsoft's growing list of courtroom screwups-- the most glaring being that recent snafu with the faked videotape. Here are some choice quotes from various Microsoft supporters: "they have essentially lost this case already," "how could this company... be so inept when it comes to putting on a few witnesses in court?", "there is no excuse for the kind of screwups that occurred," and "Microsoft is shooting itself in the foot." Wow, with friends like that, who needs enemies?

The really interesting thing is that some of these guys not only think that the current case is a lost cause, but also that Microsoft's "chances for success on appeal are dwindling." So does that mean that the sequel to "Redmond Justice" ("The Appeal") will also exhibit comedic tendencies? Will we see a repeat of what the Seattle Times refers to as Microsoft's "deeply flawed legal strategy"? We're not sure just how much comedy we can handle, but what the heck-- bring it on.