Tonight's episode of "Leverage" features a too-literal metaphor that fortunately doesn't prove fatal

Tonight, on "Leverage:"

Parker's (Beth Riesgraf) called for jury duty under the guise of the fake identity Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge, which is actually a better name for his character than Alec Hardison) has created for her, which makes him impressed with his own computer-hacking skills. Her colleagues/fellow con men think it'd be a good idea for her to go, as it might help her with her people skills.

The case involves something horrible that some New-Agey guru/businessman (Brent Spiner with no yellow makeup) has done, involving some b.s. vitamin supplement of the sort you'd see advertised on late-night TV and nowhere else, and Parker thinks the Leverage folks should investigate. And, in fact, there is something shady going on and the Leverage folks do get involved.

Lauren Holly plays some high-powered something-or-other with a vested interest in the trial who tries to manipulate the jury, but Nathan (Timothy Hutton) is on the case, and there's some business involving chess pieces which is a bit too spot-on a metaphor for the proceedings, but what're you going to do?

So Parker is told to try to make friends with her fellow jurors, and, if you know anything about this show, you know that's the one thing that she's absolutely awful at. Still, after some halting, horribly botched attempts, she manages to resemble something vaguely human in the eyes of her fellow jurors.

But Lauren Holly isn't done trying to manipulate the case, which results, for some reason, in Aldis Hodge - sorry, Alec Hardison - becoming the attorney for the plaintiffs despite having no legal background and no embarrassing family members starring in a reality show along the lines of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" whatsoever.

Basically, it's "The Runaway Jury" only without Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman chewing up the scenery and with jokes. Despite the earnestness at its core, "Leverage's" do-gooder concerns are utterly leavened by its casual wit.

- "Leverage:" 10 tonight, TNT.