Topic: Boston Legal

[DJ Doena]

I only bought this show because I already enjoyed James Spader in Stargate (the movie) and now in The Blacklist.

But I've come to really like this show. The characters are quirky, which is to be expected from a David E. Kelley show (Ally McBeal) but I especially like that there's no Fourth Wall.

The characters talk freely about the current episode being the season finale or a sweeps episode or Denny silencing a bystander with the argument that he's only an extra and isn't allowed to talk in the first place.


And while I really love Alan and Denny and their opposing views on America, the episode that really touched me was the once I just watched. It's 3x18 The Son of the Defender.

It features a hostage negotiation where a man takes Denny and the firm hostage because Denny and his father defended the supposed murderer of that man's father 50 years ago.

What makes it so special is that they used archive footage of exactly 50 years previously (2007 / 1957) featuring a young William Shatner (Denny) who starred on a show called Studio One (an anthology series). Shatner actually played a young lawyer and his father (the senior lawyer) was portrayed by Ralph Bellamy (Trading Places & Pretty Woman amongst many others) where they defended a young man played by then-unknown Steve McQueen. The episode was called The Defender.

[DSig]

DJ Doena, I fully agree.  That was a great episode and Boston Legal was a great, fun, quirky show.  The cast of characters, their phobias etc really showcases the writing/direction of David E Kelly when he is on his game.  Have you seen the whole series yet ... leading to the finale?  What a hoot

[Dragonfire]

I don't think I ever saw that one. 

[DJ Doena]

Have you seen the whole series yet ... leading to the finale?  What a hoot

No, I'm waching it for the first time and am at the end of the third season.

[DSig]

That is great ... hope you keep enjoying it

[DJ Doena]

Seeing John Larroquette on the fourth season, I just have to complete my collection of Night Court. I loved that show as a child!

[DSig]

Seeing John Larroquette on the fourth season, I just have to complete my collection of Night Court. I loved that show as a child!

He was SOO out there.  Another great show and probably going to be another drain on my wallet .. thanks man <G>

[DJ Doena]

Yeah I just checked and there's no complete box set (yet), so I restrained myself and only ordered seasons 2+3 (12 bucks each) and set the other 6 seasons on my price watch.

[Dragonfire]

I have 3 seasons of Night Court..I had forgotten how funny Laraquette was as Dan.  I didn't know the rest of the seasons were out..my wish list just grew...again.   

[DJ Doena]

Just out of curiosity I wanted to check out The Practice but it never seems to have been released beyond the 2th () of 8 seasons.

So I loaded the 8th season (the one introducing Alan Shore) and watched the first two episodes. To be completely honest, I wouldn't have watched that show. Aside from Alan I didn't like any of the characters, especially not the righteous black dude. I then skipped forward to episode 17 where Alan had just been fired for something and Denny Crane was introduced. No I'm watching these final episodes of the show where their law firm seems to fall apart.

I'm glad that Boston Legal took a completely different approach.

[Tom]

I am curious how I will like Boston Legal. Especially what I will think of James Spades, whom I mainly know as Robert California from The Office.

[DSig]

I am curious how I will like Boston Legal. Especially what I will think of James Spaders, whom I mainly know as Robert California from The Office.

If The Office is your only exposure to James Spader then you are in luck ... anything else can wash that out of your mind.  I never really understood why he went there except in an attempt to save the show.

Spader can play the creapies, sleazyest person there is .. like in Wolf, Mannequin and Baby Boom.  He also has a very good comedic vein as in Curtain Call and drama like Stargate.

In Boston Legal, he and William Shatner really create a great duo.  But he is funny in that people either love him or hate him.

[Dragonfire]

I saw some of The Practice..as the show went on longer, I got more .....hmm...irritated I guess.  I didn't like it as much and I pretty much stopped watching.  I had stopped watching by the time the newer characters were introduced and the one firm was crumbling.  I don't even know why the firm broke up.

[DSig]

The Practice was at times very very good.  But it was too dark and brooding.  Yes we get it ... the system bad ... any system bad ... move on.

With Boston Legal David E. Kelly put some of the great humor and characters from Ally McBeal, sprinkled a bit of seriousness from The Practice (not too much) and came up with a great formula.  Fun, quirky characters and situations.

[Tom]

I just watched an episode where “Odo“ and “Quark“ had a confrontation 
Nice meta humour.