A Show so Great it Can’t Be Legal: Boston Legal Starring William Shatner and James Spader
Boston Legal is one of my favorite shows on television. It just finished its second season and it has only gotten funnier and more enjoyable in this second season. The show is directed by David Kelly who has produced some remarkable television series. Boston Legal was created when David Kelly’s other show, the Practice had to be taken off of the air because the show lacked creativity and could not hold an audience. Boston Legal is a great show and I encourage all of you to buy the Season 1 &2 on DVD or watch the repeats on television. The show appears on ABC on Tuesday nights at 10:00 pm.
Boston Legal stars William Shatner who is a great actor who has had a long career and James Spader who appeared on the Practice. The two actors seem to have great chemistry together and the show is built on the two men and the trial cases that they handle.
The law firm partners are made up of William Shatner who stars as Denny Crane, Candice Berger, and a third partner named Paul. The three partners each have contrasting styles that each adds something unique to the show. William Shatner plays the role of a big time lawyer in a huge Boston legal practice. Denny Crane has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease but he shows no symptoms of it besides the occasional lapse in judgment or not remembering information. Some of the more humorous episodes feature James Spader who plays the role of Alan Shorr playing tricks on Denny. The two men are best friends on Boston Legal.
Almost very episode of Boston Legal is laugh out loud funny. You cannot help but laugh at some of the comments made by Denny Crane and Alan Shorr. James Spader plays the role of a lawyer who sticks up for his friends and people he knows and is willing to do whatever it takes to get his client acquitted. When the law firm called Crane, Poole and Schmidt is lost on a case and knows they cannot win, they turn to Alan Shorr who helps them win.
One of the great aspects of the show is that it is much more than just another law show. It is so entertaining. Even the court room scenes are entertaining as Alan Shorr and Shirley Schmidt give interesting and thoughtful closing speeches in the trial cases that every juror and viewer watching can relate to on some level.
It is funny to watch Denny Crane’s huge ego at work as he thinks that every courtroom is designed for him. It is also fun to watch Denny Crane interact with women as he has been married six times. His last wife he was married to for a couple of days before he cheated on her. Alan Shorr also has a way about him with the ladies including many of his co workers at the law firm.
Boston Legal also has had several cameo and guest actors perform on the show such as Michael J. Fox. Michael J. Fox played the role of a man with a dying disease, similar to his own life and his own disease. In the show he falls in love with one of the lawyers at the firm, Crane Poole and Schmidt.
On some episodes of Boston Legal, the lawyers face personal trouble within their own family. Sometimes they will have to defend a relative in court and acquit him or her of charges. Other times they will have to defend a murderer in court.
On Boston Legal when the show nears its end, every episode ends with Denny Crane and Alan Shorr sitting on a chair on the balcony of their law firm and drinking scotch or wine and smoking a cigar. They talk for a few minutes about the court cases they were in and memorable events from the episode.
Boston Legal is a very good show as it is funny and entertaining. I highly encourage everyone to see a few episodes of the show.