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CS
Weekly Archive > DVD
of the Day > 12/01/06
Shatnerific!
by jason davis
Boston Legal: Season Two
Corinne Brinkerhoff, Lawrence Broch, Courtney Flavin, Sanford Golden, David E. Kelley, Andrew Kreisberg, Janet Leahy, Michael Reisz, Jonathan Shapiro, Phoef Sutton, and Karen Wyscarver
Created by David E. Kelley
 
 
Blending the whimsical sensibility of Ally McBeal with the legal acumen of The Practice, Boston Legal is the perfect amalgam of creator David E. Kelley's take on the television legal drama. Seemingly absurd cases are tried alongside more serious crimes in a fashion that highlights the peculiarities of American culture and its ever-evolving legal system, while the principal characters offer insights into the human condition despite occasionally cartoonish behavior. Under the supervision of head writer Janet Leahy, the writing staff walks the narrow line between emotional drama and outrageous satire while maintaining Kelley's distinct characterizations—perhaps the most striking of which is senior partner Denny Crane (William Shatner). In Crane, Kelley and his writers have found the perfect vehicle for a pop culture icon and skillfully encapsulated Shatner's public persona into an addled attorney with an epic ego. Crane forms the heart of the series' humor and pathos while providing a foil for more conservative senior partners Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen) and Paul Lewiston (Rene Auberjonois), and a mentor for wry and rebellious lawyer Alan Shore (James Spader). A brief featurette focusing on Leahy details the process by which an episode is developed.
Boston Legal: Season Two
20th Century Fox Home Video
Not rated; 1,165 min.
$59.98
Buy it now
Jason Davis is the DVD Manager for CS Weekly, a contributing editor for Creative Screenwriting Magazine, and has written for Cinescape.com, MSN.com, and created the TV series Studio 13, which ran on Lorne Michaels' Burly TV network. He lives in the small space left over by his ever-expanding library of books, movies, and music.
Boston Legal: Season Two courtesy 20th Century Fox Home Video
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