Archive for Current News
The final season of David E. Kelley’s Emmy Award-winning series Boston Legal
will begin its run with an episode titled “Smoke Signals.”
“Smoke Signals” will take audiences to a different scene, when the firm of Crane, Poole and Schmidt tackles the tobacco industry. This will be the 89th episode of the series, following last season’s “Patriot Acts.” We were left with Alan (James Spader) and Denny (William Shatner) celebrating their acceptance to the Auxiliary Coast Guard. We next see them this season defending a client whose father smoked cigarettes and died from lung cancer. The tension between Denny and Alan surfaces even more, even in the smallest of acts in the trial. Another surprise character from Alan’s past appears in the episode as well.
It has been reported that the fifth season of Boston Legal will no longer include Gary Anthony Williams as Clarence/Clarice Bell. Williams claims that he was not upset that his stint on the show was over. He already had two years on Boston Legal, and that was much more than he expected. Taraji P. Henson has also confirmed her departure from the show, no longer playing the character of Whitney Rome.
Boston Legal is one of ABC’s consistent performers, having a concentration of high income viewers in its young adult audience. It premiered in 2004 as a spin-off of The Practice, but has remained on the network because it was well-received. It was once again nominated in the Emmy Awards this year, for the outstanding performances of its cast members.
Boston Legal will be airing “Smoke Signals” on September 22 at 10pm, its new timeslot on ABC. It will be appearing regularly with Dancing with the Stars and Samantha Who? on Mondays.
At the chaotic law firm of Crane Poole & Schmidt, there’s no such thing as temporary insanity – it’s more of a permanent condition! Amid torrid interoffice love affairs, and under the watchful eye of new senior partner Carl Sack, the firm’s brilliant but volatile attorneys take on such burning social issues as the death penalty, gays in the military, euthanasia, mortgage foreclosures, going green, racism, obesity and animal rights. So enjoy a stiff drink and light a cigar as the fourth season of the seriously addicting legal drama “Boston Legal” lands on DVD September 23rd from Fox Home Entertainment.
Headlining the stellar ensemble cast are James Spader** (Secretary, Sex Lies and Videotape) and William Shatner* (“Star Trek”), starring in their respective Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning roles as two unlikely kindred spirits among the brigade of high-priced litigators at Crane Poole & Schmidt; matching forces in her Emmy nominated role is Candice Bergen*** (“Murphy Brown”) playing the vigilant founding partner; and former TV lawyer John Larroquette**** (“Night Court”) joins the firm as the new senior lawyer from the New York office.
From prolific television producing and writing icon David E. Kelley (“Ally McBeal,” “The Practice”) “Boston Legal” tells the professional and personal stories of a group of brilliant, but often emotionally challenged attorneys. Sometimes irreverent and funny, sometimes intense and moving, “Boston Legal” prides itself on being at the forefront of issue-oriented television, often addressing issues that are underreported by the media. Fast paced and darkly comedic, the series confronts social and moral issues, while its characters continually stretch the boundaries of the law. Nominated for an EmmyÒ Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2007, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recently honored the show with their Television Academy Honors, recognizing television with a conscience and achievements in programming that present issues of concern to society in a compelling, emotional and insightful way. The five-disc “Boston Legal” Season Four DVD collection includes all 20 episodes from the fourth season along with “The New Kids on the Courtroom Floor” behind-the-scenes featurette and will be available for the suggested retail price of $59.98 U.S. / $89.98 Canada. But you can download it here for only $29 U.S., click here to download DVD.
Emmy winner and popular talk show guest William Shatner will turn host when the interview series “Shatner’s Raw Nerve” premieres later this summer.
Bio Channel announced Wednesday (July 9) that “Shatner’s Raw Nerve” will premiere on Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 10 p.m. ET.
Among Shatner’s earliest guests will be none other than the actor’s “Star Trek” colleague Leonard Nimoy. Other promised early guests include John Voight, Jimmy Kimmel, Judge Judy, Jenna Jameson, Leonard Nimoy, Kelsey Grammer and Valerie Bertinelli.
The release for the show promises that Shatner will probe his guests’ most sensitive subjects, exposing that eponymous “Raw Nerve” and warns that “the show will be unpredictable, allowing Shatner to work his magic on each guest in his own unique way.”
“Shatner’s Raw Nerve” is produced by Scott Sternberg Productions.
Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments today on last night’s episode of the ABC program, “Boston Legal”:
“There is no one in Hollywood more fascinated—and angry—about the Catholic Church than ‘Boston Legal’ creator David E. Kelley. That was obvious with his show “The Practice” also. Last night he shared with us once again his wish list. The episode focused on the plight of yet another terribly oppressed woman. The source of her oppression, of course, is the Catholic Church. She wants to become a priest, but she refuses to walk down the block to join the Episcopal church. So she realizes Kelley’s dream by evincing a hatred for diversity and tolerance: she sues the Church for discrimination.
“Orthodox Judaism, Mormonism, Islam and Orthodox Christianity merit honorable mention in the show (they have the same clergy strictures), but they don’t really count: it is the big bad Catholic Church that Kelley wants to knife. For example, in the courtroom lies are told about the Catholic Church’s alleged support for slavery, the execution of witches and the Inquisition. [Note: It was the Catholic Church—not any other religion—which first opposed slavery, and it was St. Patrick who was the first public person in history to fight against it; and for the most part, it was the civil authorities, not the Church, who punished witches and were responsible for the Inquisition.] In the end, Kelley’s biggest fantasy is realized—the Catholic Church’s tax-exempt status is revoked. Oh, yes, Kelley also speaks vicariously about sodomy: it should not be a sin.
“In the real world, now that imperial judges in California have overturned the express will of the people by allowing Sam to marry Steve (they have not ruled on whether Sidney can make it a trifecta), Kelley must be gushing. But it won’t last: he’ll get another reality check in November.”
ABC’s legal dramedy given fifth season after creator David E. Kelley leverages rights to Life on Mars.
Boston Legal will be back for a fifth season, but it wasn’t easy.
The legal dramedy from superproducer David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal) was given another season by ABC, but its future had to do with the promise of another show and not its own, according to Variety.
Kelley owns the rights to the show Life on Mars, which ABC dearly wants to see in its lineup. The producer stood his ground and allegedly told ABC that if it wants Mars, it’s going to have to green-light another season of Boston Legal. That’s what we call hardball, folks.
Under the terms of the agreement, Kelley will stick with Boston Legal, depart Mars, and hand over the reigns to Mars to ABC. The network is expected to install producers from October Road to handle show-running duties on Life on Mars.
Boston Legal was not considered a lock for renewal this season. It carries only a small but loyal and upper-class audience.
Life on Mars is another adaptation of a British drama series, and follows a detective who is somehow transported back to the 1970s. ABC is expected to pick up the series for a full season.
source: tv.com
