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Boston Legal starring James Spader, William Shatner & Candice Bergen

Posted on June 11, 2011 Written by ripitup

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Boston Legal starring James Spader, William Shatner & Candice Bergen. Feat. Mark Valley & Julie Bowen.
Boston Legal starring James Spader, William Shatner & Candice Bergen. Feat. Mark Valley & Julie Bowen. Image via telechimp.com

Introduction to Boston Legal’s Characters in The Practice

The best way to start watching the legal drama/comedy Boston Legal is to watch the 8th (=last) season  of the legal drama The Practice. Both shows were created by David E. Kelley. The Practice’s main character Bobby Donnell (Dylan McDermott) left the show after the end of season 7, though he did guest-star in the final two episodes. Along with Bobby, several other main characters left and the show was introduced to a kind of lawyer we haven’t quite seen the like of. This new lawyer was Alan Shore (James Spader), an old friend of Eleanor’s. Alan was very creative, “ethically challenged”, fun-loving and most of all a kick-ass lawyer. The fact that he was ethically challenged worked very well for his clients who were being screwed over by giant corporations, or the government.  He was in nature a very decent man, and he didn’t really let his legal obligations get in the way of helping his clients. But this nature wasn’t welcomed by Eugene (Steve Harris) or Jimmy (Michael Badalucco) and finally they fired Alan. But they didn’t fire Alan before accepting the millions of dollars he brought to the firm. So Alan went to the law firm Crane, Poole and Schmidt (the very firm Boston Legal takes place at) and hired two attorneys from the firm, one of them being the legendary yet aging Denny Crane (William Shatner).

While Denny strikes Alan odd at first, he slowly gets used to his theatrics and Alan wins the trial after giving Eugene’s firm hell, in his very own fun way. Denny loves Alan and decides to hire him, preparing us for Boston Legal’s first season.

Boston Legal Characters, Plot and Attitude

Our highly interesting, entertaining, sexual and intrinsically decent Alan Shore starts working for Crane, Poole and Schmidt. While much of his behavior is frowned upon, some of his more “creative” approaches are welcome. The firm also welcomes his friendship with Denny. After all despite all his quirks, Alan seems more normal next to the aging Denny who claims that he has mad cow (as opposed to accepting he is becoming senile or developing Alzheimer’s), hits on every woman (despite being in his  70s), goes around saying his full name – “Denny Crane”- every two minutes and tries to take important cases, to the horror of the other partner/Denny’s ex-girlfriend Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen).

Then there is the younger attorney Brad (Mark Valley)– who, in theory, should be getting along with Denny. After all they are both pro-war, pro-government and they are both ex-soldiers. But Brad is, according to Alan, is more like a Ken doll, and the partners want him to keep an eye on Denny. And Brad is jealous of Alan, because despite being younger and fitter than him, women seem to be more interested in Alan.

 

Enter the British Tara (Rhona Mitra), who had joined The Practice for the last season and when the firm fired her because she helped Alan. Alan helped her get a job at Crane, Poole and Schmidt. The sexual tension and attraction between them keeps growing. Things get further complicated when the young associate Sally (Lake Bell) also becomes interested in Alan. Oh, and she used to sleep with Brad…

 

 

The show focuses on the quirks of each character, as well as their interaction with each other. Alan and Denny become best friends very quickly and almost each episode ends with them sitting on the balcony, sharing a drink, smoking a cigar and discussing the events of the day.

 

**

How Entertaining Is It?

 

Boston Legal is a very fun show. On many levels, its oddball attitude is a lot closer to Ally McBeal (which was also created by David E. Kelly). However it is often funnier than Ally McBeal and a lot lighter than The Practice. The funny thing is that many actors enter and quit the show after staying for one season or less. Of course James Spader, Candice Bergen and William Shatner are regulars. The show also welcomes many familiar guest stars (including  Freddie Prinze Jr., Michael J. Fox and more.)

 

The trials aren’t always funny. Some episodes are emotional, intense and controversial – but the comedy is never ignored. Boston Legal is a wonderful gift to James Spader fans. After all, he gets tons of screen time while playing a very original character. But to be honest, my favorite season starring Alan Shore is the last season of The Practice. It just worked better when Alan was the quirkiest chap around. A much as Denny Crane is usually funny, he sometimes gets too annoying.

 

Still, I watch the reruns. It is entertaining, and the only piece of work where you got to watch James in a starring role for 5 years in a row.

 

Fun notes:

  • Modern Family’s Julie Bowen had a starring role in the series for 2 seasons.
  • Fringe’s Mark Valley had a starring role for 3 seasons.
  • Ally McBeal’s Biscuit John (Peter MacNicol) guest-appeared on the show, playing a totally different character.
  • Boston Legal is actor Christian Slater’s one of favorite shows.

Some Favorite lines: (quotes via imdb.com)

Guantanamo Marine General: (mutters under breath about Alan)  Snide-ass.
Alan Shore: Your Honor, I move to strike. He’s never seen my ass.

Denny Crane: Now, Alan, if all else fails and you think you’ve lost… pretend you’ve won! Works for our president.

**

Alan Shore: Let me tell me two things about myself. I too am a lawyer, I can be painfully vindictive, and I do not play fair.
Lester Tremont: That’s three things.
Alan Shore: See? Not playing fair already. And I’m just getting started.

**

Denny Crane: You’re one of those environmental lawyers?
Peter Barrett: Is there something wrong with that?
Denny Crane: They’re evildoers. Yesterday it’s a tree, today it’s a salmon, tomorrow it’s, “Let’s not dig up Alaska for oil because it’s too pretty.” Let me tell you something, I came out here to enjoy nature, don’t talk to me about the environment.
Alan Shore: All reality, none of it scripted.

**

Alan Shore: What’s your specialty?
Dr. Konigsberg: Couples’ counseling. I first saw the client and his wife together. Since the divorce I’ve been working with him alone.
Alan Shore: So they came to you to improve their relationship, and now one wants to kill the other. Not your best work, was it, doctor?

**

Alan Shore: You know I’m not about to go to Texas and not ride the mechanical bull, Chelina. That would be like going to Los Angeles and not sleeping with Paris Hilton.


Denny Crane: You left me, Shirley. Women don’t leave Denny Crane. And for a secretary!
Shirley Schmidt: It was the Secretary of Defense.


Alan Shore: Objection, your Honor. You can’t preface your second point with “first of all.”

**

 

Also on James Spader

James Spader Trivia: 13 Facts About the 3-Times Emmy Winner James Spader

The Watcher starring Keanu Reeves, James Spader and Marisa Tomei

WHITE PALACE: SEXY ROMANCE with Susan Sarandon and James Spader

Wolf starring Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer & James Spader

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: ally mcbeal, boston legal, boston legal cast, boston legal quotes, boston legal tv series, Candice Bergen, david e. Kelly, James Spader, james spader boston legal, Julie Bowen, Lake Bell, mark valley, rhona mitra, the practice, the practice tv series, W-william shatner

The Practice starring Dylan McDermott, Lara Flynn Boyle, Kelli Williams & Steve Harris

Posted on May 10, 2011 Written by ripitup

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The Practice starring Dylan McDermott, Lara Flynn Boyle, Kelli Williams & Steve Harris
The Practice Cast from left: Camryn Manheim, Steve Harris, Kelli Williams, Michael Williams, Lisa Gay Hamilton & Michael Badalucco. Image via kritikongkiko.files.wordpress.com

Bobby Donnell (Dylan McDermott) is a very sharp and passionate criminal defense lawyer who runs a small firm with other dedicated lawyers, and his old friend/assistant Rebecca (Lisa Gay Hamilton). The lawyers are Ellenor (Camryn Manheim), Eugene (Steve Harris) and Lindsay (Kelli Williams), with Lindsay being the youngest and newest member.
The firm struggles to survive as the gang takes on more and more criminal clients who can hardly pay the fees. But as Bobby puts out, they occasionally get to defend the innocent, or people who don’t deserve to be in jail. Bobby doesn’t always play by the rules, and his tactics aren’t always welcomed by his colleagues, but Bobby almost always wins his cases.
A couple of episodes later, Bobby’s friend Jimmy (Michael Badalucco) gets fired for loaning money he wasn’t supposed to, and he comes to work with the gang, although at first Bobby makes sure he stays in the trenches and help out with the research.
**

The Practice was created by David E. Kelly, the creator of Ally McBeal and Boston Legal. But unlike these two lighter and funnier lawyer shows, The Practice is darker, more intense and intentionally, not very funny. It’s not to say The Practice doesn’t have its highly entertaining moments or one-liners, but the main goal is never to make the audience laugh. It is meant to drive you in, care for the characters and their cases, wonder about how each trial will result and go over the mental dilemmas the characters currently face.

After all The Practice lawyers aren’t that happy about defending murderers, drug-dealers, hookers or other criminals, but it is how they pay the bills. But after a while, more high-profiled cases start coming in, and things get even more complicated.

The Practice is not perfect, but it is pretty solid. But of course you should know that I am big on courtroom dramas/thrillers. I love John Grisham books, and not only I watched the Practice, I also watched almost all the episodes of Ally McBeal and Boston Legal.

If you are big on the romantic aspects, don’t worry- even though Bobby Donnell isn’t a player who sleeps with a different girl every night, he gets his share of his complicated relationships. Especially since both the beautiful D.A. Helen (played by Lara Flynn Boyle, who joins the cast in the second season), and Bobby’s associate Lindsay have a thing for Bobby. To make matters worse, Helen and Lindsey are friends from law school and Lindsay isn’t that open about her feelings.

The Practice went on for 8 (1997-2004) seasons and is currently rated at 7.7 on IMDB.com. The show won 3 Golden Globes in 1999: Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series – Drama for Dylan McDermott, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture for Camryn Manheim & for Best TV Series (Drama).

 

Fun notes:


– Ally McBeal’s Ally McBeal (Calista Flockhart) makes a guest appearance in this sister show of David E. Kelley’s, and Dylan McDermott’s Bobby makes a guest appearance on Ally McBeal.
– Boston Legal’s main character Alan Shore (James Spader) appears on this show Alan Shore, and his character leads to having a show called Boston Legal.

 

– Dylan McDermott’s then wife Shiva Rose guest-stars in an episode as the plaintiff on one of Jimmy’s cases.

 

Also on Dylan McDermott

Dark Blue TV Series

Dylan McDermott Trivia

 

 

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Filed Under: TV shows Tagged With: ally mcbeal, boston legal, boston legal tv series, calista flockhart, Camryn Manheim, crime, david e. Kelly, drama, dylan mcdermott, James Spader, lara Flynn boyle kelli williams, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Michael Badalucco, shiva rose, steve harris, the practice, the practice cast, the practice tv series, the practice tv show, TV shows

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