Claim: Damages (TV series) premiered on July 24, 2007.

Damages is an American legal thriller television series created by the writing and production trio Daniel Zelman and brothers Glenn and Todd A. Kessler . It premiered on July 24 , 2007 , on FX , and aired for three seasons before moving to the DirecTV channel Audience Network in 2010 , airing for two further seasons and concluding in 2012 .   The plot revolves around the brilliant , ruthless lawyer Patty Hewes -LRB- Glenn Close -RRB- and her newest protégée , recent law school graduate Ellen Parsons -LRB- Rose Byrne -RRB- . Each season features a major case that Hewes and her firm take on while also examining a chapter of the complex relationship between Ellen and Patty . The first two seasons center on the law firm Hewes & Associates -LRB- located in New York City -RRB- . Later seasons center more on Patty and Ellen 's relationship as Ellen attempts to distance herself from Hewes & Associates professionally and personally .   Known for its depiction of season-long cases from the point of view of both a law firm and an opponent , the series is also noted for the technical merit of its writing , including its effective use of plot twists and nonlinear narrative . The series has received critical acclaim and various award nominations , with Close and Željko Ivanek winning Primetime Emmy Awards for their performances . Other established actors in the cast include Ted Danson , William Hurt , Marcia Gay Harden , Martin Short , Lily Tomlin , John Goodman , Ryan Phillippe , Dylan Baker , Janet McTeer and John Hannah .