‘Boston Legal’ lawyers up for Fall

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Shake-up at Crane, Poole & Schmidt! You can’t accuse “Boston Legal” creator David E. Kelley of complacency. When production on the ABC’s drama’s fourth season begins on June 27, some of the show’s familiar faces will be gone. No worries: James Spader, William Shatner and Candace Bergen will be back. But their co-horts, Julie Bowen, Mark Valley, Rene Auberjonois and Constance Zimmer will not be, a spokesperson for David E. Kelley Productions said Wednesday. The actors’ contract options were not picked up to keep the show fresh, the spokesperson added. Instead, joining the cast will be John Larroquette (“Night Court”) as Carl Sack, a senior partner who transfers from the firm’s New York office to Boston. Larroquette will not play the same character he won an Emmy for on “The Practice,” the Kelley-created drama from which “Boston Legal” was born. Additionally, Christian Clemenson, who won an Emmy for his portrayal of Jerry Espenson last year, will become a series regular and Tara Summers (“Dirt”) joins the firm as a young associate.

--Maria Elena Fernandez