Upfronts: ABC renews 'Boston Legal'

The love affair between Alan Shore and Denny Crane, also known as James Spader and William Shatner, will live on.

ABC has renewed "Boston Legal" for next fall -- provided that executive producer David E. Kelley can close the deal with the actors.

The series, starring Spader and Shatner, who have won five Emmys between them for their portrayal of the morally ambiguous best friends, was thought to be in trouble because it was becoming too expensive for ABC.

But, apparently, Kelley drives a hard bargain. Let's see what happens with Kelley's ABC pilot, "Life on Mars."

--Maria Elena Fernandez