'Boston Legal': the last dance

After last’s week’s revelation that Denny Crane’s Alzheimer’s was getting worse, it was hard not to suspect that Monday night’s final finale of “Boston Legal” would wind up with best friend Alan Shore either killing him or kissing him.

Instead, they split the difference and got married.

It was a fitting end to the most devoted, and deranged, couple on television. Since the show’s spin-off from “The Practice” five years ago, the friendship between Denny (William Shatner) and Alan (James Spader) has been both the anchor and the pixie dust of Davd E. Kelley’s award-winning show, with each episode ending with the two men out on the balcony, smoking cigars, drinking scotch and talking about the vagaries of the human condition. Through Denny and Alan, Kelley and his writers attempted to explore that elusive creature — male emotional intimacy — and in doing so launched a thousand knockoffs, now known in entertainment media parlance as “bromance.” But none of them hold a candle to the boys of "Boston Legal."

So what if Alan took Denny to be his lawful wedded mostly to avoid tax laws and to ensure power of attorney? He loves the guy, as he managed to say at least 10 times in the course of two hours, which actually became a bit tedious.  But Kelley wanted to make it clear: Denny and Alan, together forever, baby whatever.

It wasn’t the only point he wanted to clarify before parting ways with ABC. Because today marks the first time in 20 years that Kelley hasn’t had a show in prime time, it’s not surprising that he wrote the season finale himself, or that he took the show’s love of a good rant and dialed it up several notches.
A few final thoughts Kelley wanted to share:

China — he’s against it. Or at least the insidious takeover of the United States by the Chinese government under the guise of Chinese corporations, like the one that buys Crane, Poole and Schmidt. Shirley Schmidt (Candace Bergen) tried to stop the sale with an injunction (the Chinese will dismantle American democracy, she argued), Denny shot the new bosses with paintballs and Alan threatened to take them to court and sue them for wrongful termination and being, you know, Chinese, all to no avail. It’s Chang, Poole and Schmidt as evening falls over Boston.

Religion — against it. A truly ridiculous exchange between the priest and the rabbi at the rehearsal for Shirley's and Carl Sack's (John Larroquette) wedding not only allowed the conversation to veer wildly from the kidnapping of Christmas (You can’t even say the word anymore!) to the obsolescence of Israel (The Jews are doing fine! Why do they need their own state?), but it, rather unforgivably, handed Larroquette the pat little speech about how religion does more harm than good (all those wars, you know.)

Pharmaceutical companies — against them. When Alan and Denny go to the Supreme Court to argue that Denny be allowed to take untested drugs in the hopes of stalling his Alzheimer’s, the young attorney opposing them argues that if the pharmaceutical companies are given the least encouragement to dump untested drugs on the market, they will do so. Even Alan agrees.

The Supreme Court — against it. Before pleading for the court’s mercy, Alan offers a nice little takedown of their anti-little-guy, pro-big corporation track record; also the red light that goes off when a lawyer’s time is up. “Why don’t you play them off, like they do at the Oscars or the Emmys” he asks.

Gay marriage —-or it, only please to call it same-sex marriage so, of course, Alan and Denny can do it even though they aren’t now, and do not plan to ever become, gay.

It was a lot of insanity and lecturing to wedge into a strange yet occasionally moving two hours. But then that is what “Boston Legal” has been about from the start. For five seasons, it has tried to address adult topics in full paragraphs in the only way possible given television’s current devotion to immaturity and outrageousness — with characters so odd they defied gravity. (With his tie-flipping, teeth-grinding, jaw-adjusting, arm-waving and sudden piercing stares, Spader’s Alan was so tic-driven he often seemed in danger of bursting through not just the fourth wall, but the entire set.)

But it’s hard to fight the Industry’s slavish devotion to heat, real and perceived, its seemingly suicidal addiction to speed and novelty. And to a certain extent, “Boston Legal” refused to play at all, positioning itself as the eccentric yet occasionally endearing professor in the back of the room, the one who still sings Tom Lehrer in the shower.

Last week, Carl launched a suit against the networks, claiming that their dimwitted devotion to young people amounted to ageism and bad business sense, because people over 50 went to more movies, watched more television and bought more CDs than the alleged youth market. "Yet the only show in which the leads are over 50 is Bo—" Then Larroquette addressed the camera. “But that would break that wall.”

“Boston Legal” has broken that wall many times, and many other things besides. But in the end, its final episode bowed, laughingly but honorably, to tradition. Alan won his case, Denny got his drugs, Shirley and Carl made up and they all got married at a Canadian fishing lodge.

A double wedding and a happy ending. Outside of Jane Austen, it doesn’t get more traditional than that. The final shot was of Denny and Alan dancing. Absurd and yet ... if you have to go out, why not go out dancing?

--Mary McNamara

(Photo courtesy ABC)

Comments

[Leo De Bruyn]

The only adult show touching on day to day events performed by probably the zaniest yet highly talented acting crew in modern day Television, must not disappear. It brought laughter to thousands as we ponder about the news we hear and read daily. Boston Legal tackled everyone of these topics, honestly and professionally. How sad to realize that Boston Legal after Monday night's finale is no more. SAD SAD SAD

[Betsy]

I was so disappointed in last night's final episode. After reading the LA Times story by Mary McNamara, I understand it was nothing more than a sounding board for David E. Kelly. I'm glad he was able to use my two hours, no, my 5 years of watching BL to do nothing but get HIS digs in. It was like having a one night stand with a narsacist. It was good for him, but left me feeling rather used and asking "hey, what about me?"

[Valentina]

Very witty and true to its core to the very end. I will thoroughly miss BL. I have always liked its taking a stance, one way or another, on topics of today's interest: china, gay marriage, scientology, religion, USA foreign aid, Iraq war, and so many other topics that we, in our advanced and free society, tend to avoid, tolerate, and forget.

[JohnRJ08]

The two chairs that Denny and Alan sat in on the balcony should go into the Smithsonian, right next to Archie Bunker's chair. I'm going to miss these two. They were highly complex characters played perfectly by actors who seemed born to play them. Their weekly reparté on the balcony has been the only episodic network television I've watched since MASH went off the air. David E. Kelley realized that grown-ups like to watch character-driven drama that is clever and topical. I didn't always agree with Kelley's subtext, but I was always captivated by the manner in which his characters delivered it. I was grateful that Kelley chose to eschew cynicism and end the series on a note of optimism and hope, even for Denny Crane. William Shatner and James Spader made me wish that there are people on this planet who are just like the characters they played. Without them, the world would be a much less interesting and endearing place. And network television is going to be considerably less entertaining without "Boston Legal".

[Chandidevi]

That this powerful show should go off the air, is at the least, disconcerting. The contemporary messages delivered by extraordinary actors will be missed. The writing is extraordinary. I will miss this show. It saddens me that most of what can be seen on the networks is trash. "Boston Legal" stood heads above any other show on the idiot box. Sad to see you guys go. Ciao! Adios! I will always hold the memory of you guys in my heart.

[Liz]

It was really sad to see a really well acted, well written show go. They joked about how the network never did right by them in promoting them, and they were right. I will miss Spader and Shatner together.

[Pat]

How I wish a cable network had stepped in to adopt this show. It was one of those rare programs that could elicit tears and laughter in the same hour, and always assumed its audience had the intelligence to consider all sides of an issue. We'll also miss the minor characters, such as Christian Clemenson's Jerry, who were as indelible as Alan, Denny, and Shirley.
P.S. This was also the only ABC program we watched regularly.

[David V]

Stopped watching it at the beginning of the third year, when it got really--you know, stupid. Nice to see I made the right decision. First two seasons are still some of the best TV I've seen in years.

[Victor Swindell]

Boston Legal was one of the last best shows of this caliber, and I doubt that we will ever have this great of a show again. Let’s face it the people who run the networks are (as the show put it out) STUPID. I’m approaching 50 and I want to see the actors I grew up with, mixed with some new ones. That’s what Boston Legal did. I want shows aimed at the mature mind. Now that is not do say there are any other great shows on TV, there are some good reality shows, and some great action adventure shows, sadly no great comedies.
But its great that we have the TLC, National Geographic, travel channel. were our minds can be feed something other than ‘two and a half men’

Denny Crane… Alan Show, Shirley Schmidt, Carl Sack, Jerry Espenson, Clarence Bell…and the rest….I’ll see you in Reruns…like I do all the really great shows

Coo coo for coca Puffs…Tricks for Kids…Denny Crane

[jtcorey]

I'm glad it's gone. it was about as relevant to "real law" as Captain Kangaroo was to the military. Yeah, it was just a TV show, but basically it amounted to David Kelly whining, "That's not faaaaaaaaaaiiiir" almost every week.

[david]

Out of all the articles I read about the finale, it seems that everyone missed the big diss towards ABC as well in part one of the finale. At the end, on the balcony scene, Denny and Allen talk about creating their own show - at least one the network would like...check it out again...it was a huge diss, but buried...you can watch it again on abc.com

[TopangaJack]

Good riddance! I enjoyed the show for 2+ seasons, but the constant bombardment of dishonest left-wing preaching left me feeling used and exhausted. Mature, thinking audiences deserve better.

[Susan]

I have watched from the beginning and I will truly miss seeing these characters "dance" across the screen. My hats off to David Kelly and his talented writers, the entire cast and crew who worked to give us viewers something that touched our funny bone, as well as our heart. This show is heads and shoulders above so many others on television right now and I think that industry suffers along with all of us sitting outside the "box".

I wish I had one of those beautiful glasses filled with scotch right now. I would hold it high and bid farewell to "Boston Legal". You all have made a difference...what more can you ask for?

Love you all,
Susan

[JJ]

If I like a how that usually means it won't last long. Again, it is true. I can't believe ABC would cancel their best show. Where is AMC or Bravo when you need them.? Goodbye Alan and Denny.

[Left-Wing Preacher]

I will miss it. Thankfully, since most (if not all) of the literate writers in Hollywood are not angry, self-loathing, inflexible thinkers, there will be more of this kind of material on many shows for years to come.

[cletus]

Alan Shore is one of the most complex characters ever on network TV. So is Jerry Espinson. So long Crane, Poole & Schmidt. I'm going to miss you.

[Virginia McKean]

I do not watch much TV, however, I have grown to look forward to Monday nights because of BL... I will miss this show and the characters who brought it to life each week. Why do the good shows bite the dust and the others just keep on going?

Well written, well performed, I cannot say enough good things about BL...Sad to see it go, however, I will look for it in reruns....

[Jim MacFarlane]

Boston Legal used to be my favorite TV show and I wathched as much
as possible here in Quito Ecuador but latelly the show has become so
corny that it disgusts me. Good ridance to Boston Legal.

[patrick]

And they stick it on opposite NFL football, thus hiding it and the same company owns both ABC and ESPN. What a######s !

[Art Marriott, Seattle]

Good on Kelley for managing to extend his middle finger in the direction of ABC in such an elaborately elegant fashion that the soulless nincompoops running the network are probably still trying to figure it out. Shonda Rhimes must be more than a little jealous.

As a bizarre side note, six of the principal characters were depicted as arriving at the fishing lodge in a Grumman Goose operated by Pacific Coastal Airlines. This company has, in real life, managed to crash two of the things in the last year. This elicited a fleeting thought that maybe the final scene would entail all of them being killed--perhaps followed by Alan and Denny attempting some absurd negotiation with St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.