"Boston Legal" (2004) TV series 2004-2008

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Creator:

David E. Kelley

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

3 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the courtroom.

Plot:

This Spinoff of The Practice will focus on Civil Law.

Plot Keywords:

Eccentric | Civil Law | Boston Massachusetts | Law Firm | City Name In Title

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 12 wins & 45 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 11	6:00 PM	WGNAMER	Squid Pro Quo	#2.25
Sun. July 12	6:00 PM	MyNetwork	Squid Pro Quo	#2.25

Cast

James Spader	...	Alan Shore (101 episodes, 2004-2008)
William Shatner	...	Denny Crane (101 episodes, 2004-2008)
Candice Bergen	...	Shirley Schmidt (91 episodes, 2005-2008)
Rene Auberjonois	...	Paul Lewiston (71 episodes, 2004-2008)
Mark Valley	...	Brad Chase / ... (70 episodes, 2004-2007)
Julie Bowen	...	Denise Bauer (52 episodes, 2005-2008)
Christian Clemenson	...	Jerry Espenson / ... (50 episodes, 2005-2008)

Also Known As:

"Fleet Street" (USA) (working title)
"The Practice: Fleet Street" (USA) (working title)
"Untitled 'The Practice' Spinoff" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

60 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Singapore:NC-16 (season 2) | Singapore:PG (season 1) | Singapore:M18 (season 3) | Singapore:M18 (season 4)

Filming Locations:

Raleigh Manhattan Beach Studios - 1600 Rosecrans Avenue, Manhattan Beach, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

Before becoming a regular cast member, Rene Auberjoinos guest starred in most episode of the first half of season one.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In several episodes when Denny and Alan are looking to join (and actually do join) a branch of the military, they choose the Coast Guard Auxillary, to which the show mistakenly refers to as "the Auxilliary Coast Guard".

Quotes:

Guantanamo Marine General: [is being questioned at trial, mutters under breath about Alan] Snide-ass.
Alan Shore: Your Honor, I move to strike. He's never seen my ass.

Movie Connections:

Spin off from "The Practice" (1997)

Pure genius

Putting James Spader and William Shatner in their own show together was a stroke of genius. Both are fine actors and they play off each other perfectly. I generally don't enjoy legal dramas, but BOSTON LEGAL is unique in its presentation. Rather than getting preachy, sleazy, or melodramatic, it delights in the moral ambiguity of its main characters and hides a little bon mot around every corner of dialog.

Shatner and Spader deliver every time, but never seem like they're trying too hard. Spader has been brilliant in almost everything he's appeared in, so we shouldn't expect any less from him here. I'm a little surprised, however, that so many people are caught off guard by Shatner's great performance. If you've followed him over the years, you'd know his sense of humor is wonderfully suited to this role. Honestly, I can't imagine a better fit for William Shatner than Denny Crane. Captain Kirk, indeed.

Any show that can put so many (hilarious) layers of meaning into the spoken name "Denny Crane" deserves all the accolades it gets.