Boston Legal

2004–2008 · Comedy, Drama · 5 seasons · ★ 7.9

Ended

+13

Synopsis of Boston Legal

Boston Legal is set in the offices of Crane, Poole & Schmidt, a high-profile litigation firm in Boston that handles both civil and criminal cases. Alan Shore, a middle-aged lawyer, joins the firm after working at another practice and approaches his cases with wit and cunning. His main partner is Denny Crane, a flamboyant, eccentric senior partner in his seventies who begins showing the first symptoms of Alzheimer's. The series plays on the chemistry between the two, who are so different in temperament and age. Shore doesn't hesitate to use questionable tactics to win his cases, and the tug-of-war between ethics and strategy drives the story. Created by David E. Kelley and aired on ABC, the series stars James Spader and William Shatner.

«Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the courtroom.»

5seasons

101episodes

42 minper episode

7.9audience scoreTMDB · 404 votes

8.5IMDb rating54,357 votes

Seasons of Boston Legal

Season 12004 · 17 ep. · ★ 8.0

Season 22005 · 27 ep. · ★ 7.8

Season 32006 · 24 ep. · ★ 8.0

Season 42007 · 20 ep. · ★ 8.0

Season 52008 · 13 ep. · ★ 8.5

Cast by Boston Legal

James SpaderAlan Shore101 episodes

William ShatnerDenny Crane101 episodes

Candice BergenShirley Schmidt91 episodes

Mark ValleyBrad Chase70 episodes

René AuberjonoisPaul Lewiston70 episodes

Julie BowenDenise Bauer52 episodes

Christian ClemensonJerry Espenson50 episodes

Gary Anthony WilliamsClarence Bell34 episodes

John LarroquetteCarl Sack33 episodes

Tara SummersKatie Lloyd33 episodes

Constance ZimmerClaire Simms24 episodes

Henry GibsonJudge Brown24 episodes

Saffron BurrowsLorraine Weller20 episodes

Rhona MitraTara Wilson20 episodes

Monica PotterLori Colson20 episodes

Taraji P. HensonWhitney Rome20 episodes

Meredith EatonBethany Horowitz18 episodes

Betty WhiteCatherine Piper16 episodes

Craig BierkoJeffrey Coho14 episodes

Lake BellSally Heep13 episodes

Marisa CoughlanMelissa Hughes13 episodes

Justin MentellGarrett Wells12 episodes

Shelley BermanJudge Robert Sanders11 episodes

Jill BrennanGracie Jane11 episodes

Michael EnsignJudge Paul Resnick10 episodes

Takayo FischerCourt Clerk9 episodes

Currie GrahamFrank Ginsberg9 episodes

Roma MaffiaJudge Victoria Peyton9 episodes

Anthony HealdJudge Harvey Cooper8 episodes

David Dean BottrellLincoln Meyer8 episodes

Ron CanadaJudge Willard Reese8 episodes

Ryan Michelle BatheSara Holt7 episodes

Mark L. TaylorAdam Jovanka7 episodes

Armin ShimermanJudge Brian Hooper7 episodes

Leyna NguyenReporter7 episodes

Gail O'GradyJudge Gloria Weldon7 episodes

John ThaddeusDetective John Stephenson6 episodes

Chuck McCannJudge Byron Fudd6 episodes

Christopher RichAttorney Melvin Palmer6 episodes

Leslie JordanBernard Ferrion6 episodes

Technical Details

Created by: David E. Kelley
Address: Mike Listo, Bill D'Elia, Robert Yannetti, Steve Robin, Jeff Bleckner
Production companies: David E. Kelley Productions, 20th Century Fox Television
Network or Platform: ABC
Country: United States
Original Language: English
Premiere: October 3, 2004
Last Episode: December 8, 2008 (5x13)
Status: Ended
Type: Fiction
Awards: Won 5 Emmy Awards; 17 wins and 67 nominations in total.
Links: IMDb · TMDB

Trivia about Boston Legal

Before it premiered, the series had the working title Fleet Street, a reference to the real Boston street where the fictional firm had its offices.

American producers hired British writer and lawyer John Mortimer as a consultant; he was the creator of the British legal series Rumpole of the Bailey.

The series was known for frequently breaking the fourth wall throughout its run.

David E. Kelley said the cancellation was ABC's decision and that he had to fight to bring the series back for a short 13-episode season.

According to Nielsen Media Research, Boston Legal drew the television audience with the highest income level, measured by the concentration of high-income viewers among young adults.

The series received 26 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, but it never achieved major success in Nielsen ratings.

In 2005, "Boston Legal" won the Peabody Award for combining satire and social commentary, and James Spader later won three Emmy Awards for playing Alan Shore.

ABC put "Boston Legal" on hiatus for part of 2005 to prioritize "Grey's Anatomy," but later renewed the series for a second season expanded to 27 episodes.

Sources: Wikipedia (English)