Led by an Emmy Award-winning cast (James Spader, Denny Crane and Candice Bergen), “Boston Legal” tells the professional and personal stories of a group of brilliant but often emotionally challenged attorneys. Fast-paced and darkly comedic, the series confronts social and moral issues, while its characters continually stretch the boundaries of the law.The classic combination of James Spader and William Shatner is just one of many reasons to savor the inaugural 17-episode season of Boston Legal. Making its highly rated ABC debut on October 3, 2004, this darkly comedic spinoff from The Practice looked like a formulaic reworking of creator David E. Kelley’s previously successful series Ally McBeal, with similar plots and quirky characters enmeshed in personal and professional affairs of the heart at the prestigious Boston law firm of Crane, Poole & Schmidt. It quickly became apparent that Kelley, co-executive producer Bill D’Elia, and the show’s magnificent ensemble cast were onto something equally fresh, funny, and infectiously entertaining.
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Both Shatner and Spader won Emmys for their original roles on The Practice, and the priceless pairing of the erratic, egomaniacal senior partner Denny Crane (Shatner, doing the best work of his career) and ethically challenged attorney Alan Shore (Spader, likewise) signaled the arrival of one of the finest comedic duos in TV history. Waging a two-man war on political correctness, the boisterous has-been Denny loves the sound of his own name (the mere mention of “Denny Crane” qualifies as ego-stroking foreplay), unabashedly subjects female associates to his lascivious advances, and (in creator Kelley’s words) “trades on the currency of his reputation” as an undefeated trial attorney. As the show’s fascinating heart and soul, Alan Shore is a walking contradiction, and Spader plays him perfectly as a charismatic, self-loathing lothario who’ll bend the law to suit his higher purposes. Deeply cynical yet fiercely committed to his own complex and compassionate moral code, he’s brazenly open about his sexual appetites as he savors the affections of smart, sexy associates Sally Heep (Lake Bell), and Tara Wilson (Rhona Mitra), whose relationship with Shore grows strained as the season progresses.
While senior partner Paul Lewiston (Rene Auberjonois), senior associate and ex-Marine Brad Chase (Mark Valley), and junior associate Lori Colson (Monica Potter) struggle to maintain the firm’s lofty reputation, the appearance of founding partner Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen) elevates Boston Legal to an even higher plane of serio-comic perfection. A former flame of Denny Crane’s, Schmidt arrives in episode 11 (appropriately titled “Schmidt Happens”) as common-sense negotiator with a rapier wit and a clanking pair of big brass cojones, fully capable of holding her own against the Crane/Shore juggernaut. And while “An Eye for an Eye” (episode 5) is a sublime example of Boston Legal’s deft combination of lunacy and courtroom complexity, it’s the deeper implications of episodes like “Tortured Souls” (15) and season finale “Death Be Not Proud” (tackling a dubious death sentence in Texas) that cast these rich and wonderful characters into sharper relief, baring their souls and the courage of their convictions.
With surprising departures (Lake Bell, in episode 13), new arrivals (Kerry Washington, as new associate Chelina Hall, in episode 15) and stellar guest stars including Larry Miller (as the eccentrically unstable founding partner Edwin Poole), Philip Baker Hall, Frances Fisher, Carl Reiner, Freddie Prinze Jr., Shelley Long, and late-season regular Betty White, Boston Legal gained a large and loyal following with exceptional writing, timely social relevance, and that rare quality of chemistry that guarantees long-term appeal. Nowhere is this more apparent than the now-famous Spader/Shatner “balcony scenes” that quickly became an episode-closing tradition, with staunch Republican Denny Crane and passionate Democrat Alan Shore reflecting upon their careers, current issues, and their own devoted friendship over brandy and cigars. With these two actors together, virtually every episode ends on a high note of pensive introspection, and Boston Legal becomes even greater than the sum of its parts. DVD extras are minimal (two featurettes with cast and producers, plus deleted scenes from episode 1) but enjoyably worthwhile. –Jeff Shannon
Buy “Boston Legal – Season One” For Only $15.00
April 17, 2008
#1
Forget the X-Files, CSI, Kolchak the Night Stalker.. you want to see the Creepiest show on television.. you got it right here. I’ve tried my damndest to get into this show, being somewhat of a lewd male myself, but even I can’t get passed the idea that for every case they take on there should be equal or greater the number of sexual harrasment suits during every single episode! That’s not what makes it “creepy”.. granted, a little sexual tension is amusing when it’s portrayed by attractive actors or actresses that show a good deal of “CHARISMA”.. the characters that Spader and Shatner play are not only visualy repulsive in their bloated forms, they also portray their characters as stuffy, Nueotic and flat out Weird.. which doesn’t make it appealing when they molest a client or two, it simply makes them Creepy! You can almost imagine this is how Ted Bundy must’ve appealed to his contacts. In one episode they actually had Shatner and another partner played by Robert Wagner simultaneaously feeling up Jeri Ryan as she squirmed helplessly in the courtroom as a defendant (DURING A CASE) And exactly HOW in God’s name is this suppose to be funny?? Especially to families that have any idea of what good taste is??? (I’ve read reviews were people talk about their kids ejoying it… great, you’re raising future molestors – of COURSE they’re interested!) Of course getting back to that scene, even though Jeri squirms for her life in the defendant’s chair between two disgusting bloated old farts, she accepts the attention of Spader instead.. who always has the look on his face like he just slaughtered three co-workers, drank their blood and is trying to get the one he’s talking to not to look down because he’s wearing their skull as a Jock strap… How in God’s name did a show get people this addicted when the leads are complete psychotics? At least they have Julie Bowen to drool over.. if you can take the creepy shivers the rest of the cast gives you.
April 17, 2008
#2
What started out as a good show evolved into a political forum for the far left. In addition, characters are routinely seen drinking tumblers of scotch. The office of this law firm would be ‘gold mine’ for AA.
April 17, 2008
#3
This spinoff was the ruination of “The Practice,” one of the best legal dramas ever aired. This ridiculously unrealistic sham is a major disappointment.
April 17, 2008
#4
We purchased this series on DVD because of all of the glowing reviews we had seen here. I gave it three stars because there can be little doubt that sometimes the acting, directing and writing are brilliant. In fact they are so brilliant we did not see the propaganda that was being transmitted so smoothly on the series. If one watches it with discernment, one will see the entire litany of the radical right wing beliefs being promulgated by the Faux News Network. To avoid giving away any spoilers I will refrain from pointing out all of the dozens of specific instances. A brief look at the plots will disclose that everything from torture to gun control to the right of a network to provide “Infomercials” and call them news is justified with cute plot twists and impassioned speeches given by some of the best actors in the world. We watched many shows and finally gave up in disgust when they justified torture using Attorney General Gonzales as a shining example of why all kinds of torture should be used in the name of protecting all of us.
No doubt the popularity of this program will be used by future historians as proof that America lost its way in the early part of the this century. As a student of history myself I would characterize this program as being in a league with the propaganda produced by Goebbels for Hitler and some of the propaganda produced by Hollywood for the American audience during WWII.
So if you want to use this as a teaching tool to help your students understand how subtle propaganda can be then by all means do so. Just be sure to purchase an inexpensive used copy so you can avoid enriching the ultra right wingers at Faux Network who produced this travesty.
April 17, 2008
#5
I am giving this show 3 stars because of the marvelous acting given by James Spader, William Shattner, and the rest. However this show is far too preachy for my taste. To me I look for TV and movies as an outlet of escape from everyday life. One just needs to read the paper or watch the nightly news for what Boston Legal is attempting.
Rather than a witty light hearted comedy that can throw a dramatic twist at you, David Kelly has chosen this show as an outlet for his poltical views and social preaching which is the shows downfall. Democrat or Republican, lets leave the preaching out of entertainment.