Bostonian scribe and producer David E. Kelley's snorting take on "ripped from the headlines" issues dealt with in the modern legal system, 'Boston Legal,' ends a long run on smallscreen.
good on 'yer David E. Kelley - Mann Village Theater - Westwood, CA © Glenn Harris / PR Photos
20th Century Fox TV's "Boston Legal" swan song is tonight (Monday) - a two-hour finale.
ABC does not produce the show, and that is where the problem lay for Kelley, who told the Hollywood Reporter his thoughts. "An argument could be made for us to continue," Kelley told THR. "Our demographics aren't so great, but our numbers have been pretty solid. It commanded a pretty decent ad rate. But this isn't a show that I think ABC was ever truly excited about. They don't own it, and I'm sure they prefer to invest in their own product and get a piece of the package."
The legal eagles of Crane Poole & Schmidt was headed up by Denny Crane, played by William Shatner.
Crane had some of the best lines in a series filled to the rafters with witticisms.
Denny Crane : I have an erection. That's a good sign. I'm ready to go to trial. Lock and load.
His foil in the great repartee was often James Spader's nonplussed character Alan Shore.
Alan Shore : You know I'm not about to go to Texas and not ride the mechanical bull, Chelina. That would be like going to Los Angeles and not sleeping with Paris Hilton.
Denny Crane: Because we're friends, I'm gonna tell you something nobody else knows. I'm homophobic.
Alan Shore: [deadpan] I'm stunned.
Another classic exchange:
Denny Crane: You're one of those environmental lawyers?
Peter Barrett : Is there something wrong with that?
Denny Crane: They’re evildoers. Yesterday it’s a tree, today’s is a salmon, tomorrow it’s ‘Let’s not dig Alaska for oil cause it’s too pretty?” Let me tell you something. I came out here to enjoy nature. Don’t talk to me about the environment.
Alan Shore : All reality. None of it scripted.
"Boston Legal" is officially prolific producer and showrunner Kelley's fifth show to surpass 100 episodes, all of them achieved while under exclusive contract to 20th TV according to THR.
20th Century Fox TV will no longer be working with David Kelley.
Stand out performances were turned in by Candice Bergen, (Season 2 she joined as senior partner Shirley Schmidt), and John Larroquette, (Season 4).
Shirley Schmidt : Catherine! You killed a man?
Catherine Piper: Yes, dear! If only your prolonged staring could bring him back!
ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson expressed his frustration that the ratings were never quite enough to THR. "There's always been so much anecdotal support for the show, but our good friends at Nielsen (parent company of The Hollywood Reporter) haven't seemed to agree."
Kelley is now working under his Warner Bros. deal: producing an hour long NBC legal comedy (untitled) for a tentative fall 2009 start.
For fans, here is a great resource to read the scripts from the past seasons: LINK
Your Talkback on this Story