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

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 & 49 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Dec. 19	10:00 PM	MyNetwork	Tea and Sympathy	#3.21
Sun. Dec. 20	1:00 PM	WGNAMER	A Whiff and a Prayer	#2.4

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)
Justicia ciega (Argentina) (Chile) [es]
Boston Justice (France) [fr]
Boston Legal (Germany) [de]
Boston Legal (Finland) [fi]
Boston Legal (Italy) [it]
Boston Legal (Greece) [el]
Justiça Sem Limites (Brazil) [pt]

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) (season 4) (season 5) | Singapore:M18 (season 4) | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

Regular cast members William Shatner Rene Auberjonois, and John Larroquette have all appeared in the Star Trek franchise. A number of other former Star Trek cast members have guest-starred in the show: Armin Shimerman, Jeri Ryan,Ethan Phillips and Scott Bakula.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Throughout the series, Alan Shore and Denny Crane sit on the balcony overlooking the city of Boston. However, during the cold winter months, you never see the breath of either character, thus demonstrating that the "balcony" is part of a set, and not an actual location.

Quotes:

Al Sharpton: [bursts into the courtroom] Sorry I'm late, Judge, I'll make this quick...
Alan Shore: [buts in] And subtle!
Judge Harry Hingham: [to Sharpton] Who the Hell are you?
Al Sharpton: [Continues without pause] ... The image of Santa Claus has been crafted for hundreds, and hundreds, and hundreds of years. We're supposed to be in a different day. Give the world a black Santa Claus, let the people have an African-American come down the chimney bearing joy and good will!
Alan Shore: [whispers to Sharpton] Gay, not black.
Al Sharpton: The prejudice against gay people must stop. We all say we're for gay rights. We all say we accept homosexuality. But give a gay man a hug, sit in his lap?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (2005) (TV)

Denny Crane!

I'm a lawyer, and I normally avoid law shows. I like science fiction. But this has . . . Denny Crane. Or rather, this has Captain Kirk, William Shatner, as an old, demented, republican, gun totting, ego-maniacal unenlightened, philandering, unethical, sexist, homophobic anti- environmentalist powerful attorney, and it is absolutely frelling hysterical. When they let Shatner, Candice Bergman, and James Spader do their thing, this show is gold. The rest of the regularly appearing cast is fairly good.

Sure not modeling good behavior, mind, and sometimes the legal errors go far beyond what is necessary for the plot. I think they could loose some of the younger lawyers, who really don't add anything to the mix that I can tell but seem to be regarded as necessary for demographic reasons. Once in a while it falls flat. But for the most part, this show is great.