Question: I adore Boston Legal, despite (or perhaps because of) its pandering, but I can understand why one might be turned off by that. However, I find it surprising that your criticism of the show isn't for its pandering but for the random silliness of its characters — Jerry, Clarence, Denny, etc. It sounds strange, but to me, that silliness is what makes Boston Legal special. So many shows go for the overly dramatic angle and take themselves far too seriously, just like there are far too many that do the opposite: going for cheap laughs and silliness. But Boston Legal combines those two, doing it with a tone and style that I just haven't seen on any other show. Without that lighthearted approach, the "meaty" dramatic moments could never be reached with as much impact, nor could they appeal to as wide an audience. I know that personally, this show has made it possible in my family to shift from our usual light conversations to a deeper, more intellectual political discussion of the ...
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Brenda Strong by Andrew Eccles/ABC
Yes, Mary Alice survived the five-year flash-forward, but when Brenda Strong isn't in the Desperate Housewives recording booth in her Burberry pajamas, she likes to act on screen, as well.To that end, the statuesque beauty will be doffing aforementioned PJs and slipping into a robe — a judicial one, versus terry — to guest on sister dramedy Boston Legal. Strong will be playing a sexy-but-tough judge who presides over one of Crane, Poole & Schmidt's big cases, delivering her ruling in the form of a sing-song homily (I have to imagine). The episode shoots this week. — Matt Mitovich
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Question: Any insight, Matt, as to why Boston Legal is ending its run next season? I know it's not on your list of shows to watch, but it is on mine. Love the show, love its cast, and I'll be sorry to see it end, but I'm glad at least it's going out while it's still up there as a show to be enjoyed by many, and while it hasn't lost its edge.
Answer: This appears to be a mutual decision between David E. Kelley and ABC, and letting the show end on its own timetable with its creator personally shepherding it to the end is why this is cause for thanks from fans rather than frustration. Here are some of ABC entertainment president Steve McPherson's statements on the issue when he met the press earlier this month: "David felt like he had 13 episodes left in him. He really wanted to end it. He really wanted to do some things with our two core characters. It was really his decision. I really like being able to know when shows are going out.... Let's let these creators who have created
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Question: Isn't the obvious (and unspoken, at least in your column) explanation for Boston Legal's continued Emmy success that the show's hyperliberal fantasy world — in which Alan Shore can harangue conservative Justices seemingly incapable of rebutting him — strongly appeals to the Emmy voters? Or is this what you meant by pandering?
Answer: Why yes, without being overtly political about it (because this isn't that kind of column), that's exactly what I meant by pandering. Boston Legal provides the showiest kind of soapbox, and whether I agree or disagree with that week's arguments, I usually find it childishly overblown and tiresome, which is why I remain an unapologetic critic of the show while also acknowledging that I'm hardly surprised when others think it's the bees' knees.
And for the record, for every letter in the show's favor, I get one like this, from Bob: "I think it would be appropriate, should Boston Legal or James Spader win the Emmy, if the whole audience got up for
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Question: After reading the latest bloodbath of anti-Boston Legal comments, I feel I must come to its immense defence. I must admit last season was far from its strongest year, thanks largely to dumping the previous season's stronger supporting cast and replacing them with the bland (Saffron Burrows added nothing) and the insufferable (Christian Clemenson has got to go, ditto Gary Anthony Williams). Some of the stories were preachy, biased and at times insane (Denny Crane fires a fat woman and then wins the case?), but for these flaws, Boston Legal is "easy viewing" and there simply is nothing on TV that shares its tone and style. (Eli Stone gave it a shot.) The show has passion, style and above all is headed by some great performances, led by the excellent James Spader. I know many people who would rate this series in their Top 5, and although not a blockbuster, it's very well-liked. Sure, you may prefer Mad Men, Friday Night Lights (which I just don't get) and Lost, but some of us ...
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Question: Okay, I officially give up. Please explain the Emmy fascination with Boston Legal. Not that it's a terrible show, but Best Drama every single year when shows like The Wire are ignored? Please, I need an explanation, and I am counting on you to deliver. Thanks and love the column.
Answer: In the first wave of Emmy reactions, this and the Wire snub were easily the most common complaints. So let me step back and try to put this in some context. I am often accused of having a vendetta against Boston Legal, which I agree is not a terrible show. The reason it's a target is because it is lauded by the Emmys and others far beyond its status as an over-the-top and often shameless guilty pleasure. I'd probably have less problem with it if it stayed where it rightly belongs in the comedy category. A few months ago, I used the episode in which Alan Shore argued in front of the Supreme Court, and to a lesser degree the episode dealing with the death of Shirley's father, as a peg on which
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Question: Remember back at the 1999 Emmy awards, when the year's most critically acclaimed cable series lost the Outstanding Drama Series trophy to a David E. Kelley legal series? Well, brace yourself, because nine years later, it's going to happen again. The only difference: This year's critically-acclaimed gem is not The Sopranos (it's Mad Men), and the Kelley series is not The Practice (it's Boston Legal). Anybody who thinks that Boston Legal doesn't have a serious shot at winning TV's biggest award is about to get a big surprise come September when the awards are handed out. Mark my words — it's going to happen. Best to start preparing yourselves now.
Answer: Thanks, pal, for ruining my Monday. But maybe your dredging up one of the more embarrassing moments in Emmy history will remind everyone how awful it would be should they repeat it. (Not that The Practice didn't deserve its earlier wins; just not in the year that introduced The Sopranos to TV. ...
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Jon Hamm courtesy AMC
If you heard someone momentarily flatlining in the audience at the reading of the Emmy nominations Thursday morning, that was me. They were announcing the best drama series candidates and I was mostly on board as I checked my list in the back of the TV Academy theater. Damages. Yay! House. OK. Boston Legal. I don’t approve, but I’m no longer surprised. Lost. OMG! Dexter. OM-Freaking-G! Wait. That’s five. Surely they didn’t leave out . . . And they didn’t. AMC’s dazzling Mad Men, the last to be announced, not only made the cut, it made history. With 16, it’s the most nominated drama of the year, and with FX’s Damages (seven nominations total), represents basic cable’s first-ever breakthrough into the top tier of Emmy accolades for best series. Mad Men also has to be seen as the odds-on favorite for best drama at this point.While we’re on this category—and let’s face it, this is the golden age of TV drama, so this really is t...
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Lee Pace and Anna Friel in Pushing Daisies by Scott Garfield/ABC
At least now we know which shows don't have the proverbial snowball's chance in Hollywood of getting best-series nomination. Underdogs like Battlestar Galactica, Breaking Bad and The Shield (to name the top drama snubs from my own cheat sheet) and How I Met Your Mother, The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Big Bang Theory (three superior CBS comedies passed over for Two and a Half Men, again) as well as Desperate Housewives (whose creative comeback failed to sway the Emmy nominators) and the beyond-edgy Californication.All were shut out when the TV Academy released its list of top-10 contenders for best drama and comedy series, which now submit themselves for inspection this weekend by a blue-ribbon panel whose rankings will help narrow the cut to roughly five in each category. The lists are heavy on hip cable fare: four in comedy, and fully half of the 10 drama contenders. Critics' darlings that have survived so far include Friday Night Lights, The Wire, Dexter, Mad Men, Damage...
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Boston Legal - Season 4 courtesy Fox Home Entertainment
New releases announced today, June 12:Boston Legal - Season 4 will be coming out September 23R.L. Stine's Goosebumps - 3 new releases PLUS 6 double-features will be coming out September 16 The Saddle Club - Season 1 will be coming out August 5 Visit TVShowsOnDVD.com for the complete stories on these and other news items.
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