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« Roush Dispatch
Today's Preview: Boston Legal Goes to High Court
William Shatner and James Spader in Boston Legal by Richard Cartwright/ABC
However much some of us tend to wring our hands about it, there’s a reason ABC’s Boston Legal scores those Emmy nominations year after year that often make us wonder what the voters are smoking. Several of those Emmy-bait moments occurred a week ago, in an episode about a right-to-die case involving Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen) and her father suffering from Alzheimer dementia, with Alan Shore (James Spader) making his usual impassioned case for his client. What made this argument more affecting than usual was the fact that Alan used his soapbox to contemplate the day when he might eventually be called on to make just such a terrible decision regarding the fate of his best friend, that tragic buffoon Denny Crane (William Shatner.)
The speech was an emotional blockbuster, and so was the tender climax as Shirley watched her father slip away. Scenes like this help convince Emmy voters that this show really is something, to paraphrase someone talking about Alan in tonight’s even better episode.
But as much as I appreciated those moments last week, they were overshadowed and diminished by the cartoonish ludicrousness of what surrounded it. Not so much the silly subplot of John Larroquette as Carl Sack arguing a knowingly specious case on behalf of Nantucket nabobs coveting a nuclear bomb they could call their own. But being confronted once again with the unbearably quirky and preciously pathetic character of Jerry Espenson (Christian Clemenson, among the more inexplicable of Emmy winners, from back when he was a guest actor in the role) and Jerry’s sexual peccadilloes reminded me why I’d turned away from this too-often-sophomoric series several seasons ago.
Tonight’s episode is just as aggravatingly uneven, though it could easily help qualify Boston Legal for a best-drama (and certainly best-actor) nomination against much more deserving candidates: a field that this year includes The Wire, Friday Night Lights, Dexter, Mad Men, Battlestar Galactica, The Shield, Damages and Lost among other underdogs.
The primary storyline is a knockout, reminiscent of the best of David E. Kelley, as Alan reluctantly accepts a bid to argue in front of the Supreme Court, a death-penalty case (harking back to the Texas-set episode that won Spader an Emmy for the show’s first season) involving a mentally deficient man who insists he did not rape an 8-year-old. Why would Alan be reluctant? “The Supreme Court isn’t the place for my nonsense. Much less … yours,” he tells Denny, who’s itching to go to D.C. to fulfill his dream of going in front of the Supreme Court. Although I think passing gas in front of the justices (each impersonated rather well) isn’t what most people think of as “going” before the highest court. But this is Boston Legal we’re talking about, after all. And yes, Denny makes googly eyes at Ruth Bader Ginsberg, in case you were wondering.
Being older than 12, even spectacularly inappropriate fart jokes rarely send me into spasms of delighted giggles. And neither does the incredibly uninteresting subplot of tonight’s episode, involving the tiresome Jerry and his extreme overreaction to learning a sordid secret about his latest unlikely girlfriend. (After last season’s cast turnover, the dreadful current supporting cast seems evenly distributed between bland British women and ridiculous men like Jerry and the self-righteous former cross-dresser Clarence. All deal breakers for me.)
So why watch? For Alan’s, and James Spader’s, breathlessly virtuoso performance in front of the court, responding in kind when he’s attacked by the impervious justices (Scalia, Alito and Chief Justice Roberts, naturally) in a preposterous but undeniably passionate challenge to the high court’s obvious political conflicts of interest. When faux Alito informs Alan, “Actual innocence is not something you get to argue,” Alan’s response is, “Well, how silly is that?” And it goes from there. Alan’s “Who are you people?” rant is terrifically entertaining, even as the script openly acknowledges its own obvious agenda.
This is the sort of flamboyant stunt that earns the show its Emmy nominations. While I’ll never agree, at least I get it. Some of the show’s goofy flourishes I even like, such as last week’s in-joke about the writers’ strike and tonight’s final little grace note letting us know that they know their show will be moving to a new time period (Wednesdays at 10 pm/ET) starting next week.
What revisiting Boston Legal the last few weeks has reminded me is that when this show delivers actual dramatic meat, it can be savory indeed. But all too often, it settles for smarmy little table scraps of inane nonsense that some may consider a hoot, but which I can’t help but see as a childish waste of a potentially tremendous franchise.
As Alan and Denny enjoy their regular cigar-and-Scotch signoff this week, Denny insists, “We’re not done, Alan,” to which Alan replies, “Not even close.” A reference, I’m sure, to the show’s current “on the bubble” status, not having been renewed yet for next season. I wish I could care one way or the other. Boston Legal is a show I would love to like, but as long as the likes of Jerry and Clarence—and yes, even the blustery Denny—continue to hold court, so to speak, I simply can’t.
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Apr 22, 2008 10:26 AM
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I agree with everything here. I watched BL for several seasons and mostly stuck with it for those rare great courtroom scenes with James Spader and the few and far between actually funny scenes between Spader and Shatner. I might have to record this one episode just for the Supreme Court scenes because it sounds great. But no way can I tune back in to this series on a regular basis again. There are just too many shows that are consistently far superior and this was one of the series, along with ER and the Riches, that got dumped from my regular viewing schedule. I'm glad to hear I made the right decision.
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Apr 22, 2008 1:19 PM
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I love James Spader's character and that's enough for me to watch.
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Apr 22, 2008 2:58 PM
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Your comments are so true. James Spader, William Shatner and Candice Bergen are the only reasons I watch this show. I am not sure why the "powers at be" felt compelled to clean house last year. I fast forward through any scenes with Jerry and other supporting staff.
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Apr 22, 2008 3:03 PM
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I like the silliness of the show: There is hardly an episode that I don't laugh out loud. It's exactly what I need. I don't take it seriously, I understand it's a dramedy (sp?). And more often than not, I agree with the politics...
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Apr 22, 2008 3:07 PM
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I agree with every word you said Matt. The only reason Boston Legal is ever worth watching is the rare moment in which the cases become more than just a cartoon-ish ploy. The characters are actually too quirky (something I didn't think was possible).
It upsets me that we don't have an old-fashioned David E. Kelley drama on television. The Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Chicago Hope, and Picket Fences were among the greatest works of art TV had to offer. And now Kelley has dirtied his name with this rubbish.
It actually pains me that Boston Legal came from the masterpiece that was The Practice. The fact that ABC made him mess with that perfect show to create this ill-conceived spin-off is truely worthy of a conviction. And I don't even think this can be called a spin-off when you have John Larroquette playing someone other than Joey Heric.
Sorry for the rant, but the fact that Boston Legal continually wins Emmys when other, more deserving shows, are left in the cold. I'm talking about you Battlestar Galactica and Brothers and Sisters!
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Apr 22, 2008 3:15 PM
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Unlike others, i enjoy Boston Legal's cartoonishness. I also enjoy the supporting cast for the most part even if Jerry's condition is played to the max. I think people would enjoy it more if they realized it is a dramedy and just accept the fact that Nantucket sued to acquire an a-bomb.
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Apr 22, 2008 3:16 PM
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Tara Summers is great as Katie Lloyd and was magnificent in an episode called Hope and Gory. You are all wrong about Tara Summers. If she could do an American accent well Saffron Burrows would not be playing an English character.
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Apr 22, 2008 3:20 PM
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I love the cartoonish side of BL but watch for those Emmy performances by Alan and others that pop in and out... The Practice ( which is currently running on weekends on FX in the morning on a haphazard schedule) was total serious stuff... Never a laugh that I can ever remember except from guest stars like John Larroquette... The lighter side that came at the end of the regular run of The Priactice ( which is where FX is now... the first time they've been repeated) was interesting to see again in light of what became Boston Legal... BL is not a perfect show but I emjoy it every week.... The episodes where we see the calm side of Jerry and how he can be when not under the Asberger's are also great which makes one want to put up with the silly stuff.
D
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Apr 22, 2008 3:27 PM
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As long as Spader remains the main course, I don't mind the side dishes sitting on the plate.
But seriously, dude, it almost sounds like you have something personal against Jerry Espenson/Christian Clemenson. It's not as bad as you are describing. Lighten up.
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Apr 22, 2008 3:37 PM
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I agree with a lot of what you said. I watch Boston Legal for James S. and William S. I also like that Candiance B. is a older woman who has men in love with her and that she is smart and dignified. But the part with Jerry and the women he shares an office with is so silly. All the David E Kelly show mention earlier were great and this one started out great but the silly characters need to be off the show. I notice that you mention the show Dexter - I tried to watch that once and thought it was the sickest show I have ever seen.
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Apr 22, 2008 3:38 PM
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I guess this counts as glowing praise, considering the source. As much as I seem to agree with Matt on so many shows, and am thankful for recommendations on shows I would not have even tried (Mad Men), BL is my biggest disagreement.
In fact, I've become annoyed at all the BL rants in this column over the years. Every time Matt comes across a show he doesn't like, it's usually followed by a snide 'at least it's better than Boston Legal' type comment.
Yeah, the show is uneven and sometimes ridiculous. But, when it is on its game, there really isn't a better show out there. If I have to sit through a scene about a woman in love with an alarm clock to get to one like Alan's Alheimers closing argument, I will. Every time.
The biggest crime this show commits is mismanagement of the supporting cast. Julie Bowen had absolutely nothing to do last year (except have a baby). I like Clarence...but, where has he been this year? Jerry is actually a wonderful character, just in smaller quantities. And it took way too long for John Larroquette to get something to do this year.
But at the end of the day, it's about Denny and Alan. And there hasn't been a scene yet between Spader and Shatner that hasn't been perfect. These two plus Candice Bergen keep it at the top of my must-see list despite snoozer characters (read: Lorraine and Katie).
So, cross your fingers Mr. Roush at Emmy time. I for one hope BL is back again with Lost, FNL, Galactica and Mad Men.
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Apr 22, 2008 3:47 PM
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"But seriously, dude, it almost sounds like you have something personal against Jerry Espenson/Christian Clemenson. It's not as bad as you are describing. Lighten up."
I totally agree with Matt on this one! Boston Legal has had and lost some potentially great characters over the course of their run, but Jerry and Clarence are not among them. I just cringe when either of them show up on the screen. Nothing at all against the actors; it's the characters that I detest.
I also think it's a crime the way they're (under)using John Larroquette's character. I love the actor and think the character is very needed on this show, but they're wasting his talents! He has great chemistry with Candice Bergen.
The only part of Matt's dispatch that I can't agree with is the very last part about Denny. He's often cartoonish and buffoonish, but the scenes between him and Alan are gems. The thing is, he should be the only character that far removed from reality!
cinm - You can't possibly appreciate Dexter after only one show. Did you see it from the start? There's a storyline there that's best viewed in order, in its entirety. Watching an episode here and there would definitely minimize the impact of the show. I can certainly appreciate that it's not for everyone, but it's so well-written and well-acted (particularly Michael C. Hall) that it's fascinating to watch. While the subject matter is distasteful, for sure, the show is done so well that you kind of get lost in the plots and actually find yourself, for lack of a better term, rooting for Dexter. I think it's an amazing show, very worthy of any recognition and awards it receives.
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Apr 22, 2008 3:55 PM
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I adore the absurdity of this show. While I would appreciate some of my other faves garnering their rightful Emmy nods, I have to admit that James Spader is a marvel to behold. Add in Shatner and Candice Bergen, and the three combine to make this show a must-see for my boyfriend and I.
I wouldn't get too hung up on the side characters - they have a track record of 'cleaning house' every new season, after all.
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Apr 22, 2008 3:58 PM
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Oh come on Roush. Give me a break. You have shows like Woman's Murder Club on and you are upset with BL? That's rediculous. BL is one of the best. It offers a little bit of everything. I agree that Jerry and Clarence need to be adjusted a bit. But for the most part the show is great fun, takes a swipe at society, has heart and does what a good show should.....entertain. Do yourself a favor and relook at the line up on the tube. BL should be in the top 10 all the time. I agree with you most of the time, BUT, this time you got it all wrong.
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Apr 22, 2008 3:58 PM
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