Boston Legal 05x12/13 -- "Made in China"/"Last Call"

[Jax]

Watching it now just finished 1st episode and loved it...

"Its like Jumping the Shark"

"This could be a new television series"

"On a new network"

"One that cares"



That and the opening scene with Denny shooting the Chinese is exactly what Boston Legal is my favourite show of all time

Now for LAST CALL

 

[TGTheodore]

When I first saw the Chinnese the first thing that came to my mind was going to be a Newhart type ending.

Exactly! Just as I thought a few weeks ago.

For those who don't know, the final episode of Newhart started with an Asian conglomerate buying up everyone's property, but Bob refused to sell, so his lodge was surrounded by a Japanese golf course.

Since all his neighbors sold out, they lost their jobs (even though they were rich).

Then the story kept getting crazier and crazier until Bob gets smacked in the head with an errant golf ball and blacks out.

Then Bob HARTLEY (from The Bob Newhart Show), wakes up in bed next to his wife Emily and tells her what a weird dream he had about running a lodge in Vermont.

When everyone in tonight's episode said they were going to a lodge to get married, and then they end up getting married by Scalia, I still held out hope.

And I thought for certain it would happen when there was the shot of Alan watching the three couples dancing. I'm betting there HAD to a version (for how ever short a time) that had a Newhart ending. (Especially when Alan said he wanted to work for the poor. Shades of The Practice.)

Just a great final bow for the series, so many open windows, (and another great dig at ABC), yet enough closure in case no incarnation ever resurfaces.

This one will be missed.

--Ted

P.S. Storywise I get why they firm's name was changed to "Chang, Schmidt and Poole". I'm just wondering if, in real life, Kelley was jabbing someone named Chang. Perhaps an ABC exec or something. (Or even Christopher Plummer's character in Star Trek VI). Just a passing thought, since there have been so many wonderful in-jokes in this series.

 

[Jax]

Finished the 2nd episode and I don't think words can really say how much I will miss this witty and charming show. The characters are so out of this world but at the same time the show grounds in self in every day reality, which makes it so appealing to sit down and watch. Far as I am concerned the show is the funniest and most dramatic seen in a long time and I doubt we will ever see a show like it again but I will cherish and rewatch all 101 episodes many times in my life and Boston Legal will always be and has always been a perfect example of why I watch TV, not because am too lazy to read or go out and meet new people (as most people consider those who watch a lot of TV) but because only a TV show like Boston Legal can hit you so emotional with highs and lows. BL has brought several tears and many laughs over the past 5 years and for that thank you David E Kelly and yes ABC.

As for the series finale, seeing them getting married by a Supreme Judge was pure classic and the last scene was so touching but I was a little annoyed that the sign was changed so quickly to drop CRANE and I was so hoping we would hear Denny say his own name one more time.

But in the end GREAT SHOW, GREAT ENDING, that my Alan Shore rant over

 

[nx1701g]

I just have to add something that amazed me a bit. My local ABC affiliate had a commercial on during the finale promoting that they were airing the syndicated episodes on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 11:35 after the local news. I think this is the most promotion BL ever got on an ABC network...

 

[Jax]

Bosto Legal scored over 10 million for its series finale

 

[bigdaddy]

Yep a little less than 10 million for the first episode a little more for the finale.

David E Kelly was going to do Life on Mars but left, he is now working on... another law show. I find that funny after how much law was followed in Boston legal.

It was really a great finale, I like them keeping things open without just going to a black screen. the West Wing closed up one president and started a new adventure we wouldn't see. I love the balcony scene with them dancing and Denny going "Do you think we should start our own law office?" and Alan answering "We don't have to decide that tonight", because it's the finale and they kind of had to.

And about the balcony, it's where ever the story needs it to be. I think they only had one episode where they showed how high up it was, and it seemed 8-10 stories up, but I might be making that scene up in my head.

 

[Trekker4747]

Re: ABC and promoting BL.

What little ABC I watch, mostly just Lost, I can't say I ever recall them advertising BL that much -if at all.

Again, sad to see this show go away and am glad I "discovered it."

And about the balcony, it's where ever the story needs it to be. I think they only had one episode where they showed how high up it was, and it seemed 8-10 stories up, but I might be making that scene up in my head.

There was an episode where Brad and Coho were fighting in Buzz Lightyear costumes in the street and Denny and Alan looked over the balcony to watch them fight. There may have also been a couple times something was dropped over the edge and they looked over to see it.

Again, I don't recall either case making it all that clear that the "balcony" was really an empty office converted into a balcony.

 

[bigdaddy]

That's it! There was a fight, I'm glad I wasn't dreaming something up. Last night the balcony looked much higher up than normal, but who care? It was a nice send off. It would be like arguing over the fact that The Supreme Court doesn't rule on anything until months after you argue it.

And in 5 seasons I have seen six commercials for it. One was 3 weeks ago, and at least 2 were when the show first started.

 

[Samuel T. Cogley]

Fantastic ending.

I laughed. I cried.

And Alan and Denny married? That's fucking perfect.

 

[Hennessy Badger]

EW.com's Mandi Bierly mirrors my feelings about the finale:

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/12/boston-legal--1.html

Boston Legal, You Will Be Missed.

 

[Roger Wilco]

That was insane and insanely funny even by Boston Legal standards.

A worthy finale - let's look at it positively: not many shows get the chance for such a beautiful closing.

 

[John Picard]

Excellent. Alan's argument for his marrying Denny were fantastic. Hell, their logic for marry each other was fantastic. This show had many excellent moments, and had it ended with the two Chinese guys on the balcony I would have called it good

 

[Kelso]

Fucking marvelous.

 

[Pensive]

I can't wait for this (tragically shortened) season to come out on DVD

 

[bigdaddy]

David E. Kelly yelling about ABC...

David E. Kelley: ABC Shunned Boston Legal; "Satisfied" with Series Run

By Joyce Eng Mon Dec 8, 11:41 PM PST Boston Legal closed its doors for the final time Monday night, ending a five-year run and a two-decade-old era in the process. With its two-hour bow, Legal's goodbye means it'll be the first time in 22 years that television is without a topical David E. Kelley program on air.

But it didn't have to end this way.

"ABC didn't want us back," Kelley told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It's as simple as that. They didn't even want us back for this year at all. We had to fight to get back on with 13. It's not a product they care to market."

Even though it was developed as a spinoff of Kelley's critically acclaimed The Practice, he felt that Legal got the bastard child treatment from the Alphabet from the very beginning. "Five years into the show, if anyone has ever seen the show at ABC, they've yet to bring it to my attention," he said.

The apathy stems from Legal's production studio, 20th Century Fox Television — which means ABC does not own the series, giving it more reason to push it off to the side and focus on their on development slate.

Though never a ratings hit (bullshit), Legal did nab five Emmys, was the stomping ground of over-50 well-known actors and actresses, made more meta-references than you can count, and created a character in and of itself out of a balcony.

And while Kelley would love to have gone for Season 6, he is not bitter at having his Alan Shore-Denny Crane idiosyncratic love affair of sorts cut short.

"I feel satisfied we had run a good course," he said.

What did you think of Legal's series finale? Should ABC have renewed it for another year? What were your favorite moments from the show?

Here.

 

[Jax]

Season 1 got 12.5 million average on Sunday Nights before it was moved to its long time slot of Tuesday night where it gathered....

10.3 million
9.9 million
9.8 million
9.0 million (A bit lower I think but thats my info)

A very consistent show and you can tell ABC wanted rid because there was never any problems really until the 2nd half of Season 4 during the strike where BL was moved to Wednesday nights and it suffered horrible ratings in the 7 million range despite a strong start.

From what I know BL normally performed better during the 2nd halfo f the season until ABC tried to find an excuse to axe it in season 4 but thanks to David we got a 5th season.

Despite being owned by FOX, they only care about the demo so it could of never fit in there but I think CBS would of been perfect for it. 101 episodes is great but if left on sunday nights I think BL would of kept in the 10-12 million range.

 

[paudemge]

It does seem like ABC marketed BL like fox did koth. Fox would hype up 'Animation Domination' describing simpson, family guy, american dad, then as an after thought add oh yea a new koth too.
Seems like ABC did the same for BL.

 

[bigdaddy]

The fifth season averaged 9.2.

And most of the articles I read said "Boston Legal was never a hit"... ummmm... what? It was a hit in season 1, it would have stayed a hit but it got moved around, never had ads and the cast was always getting fired. For a show with no ads and 3-4 time changes it was a huge hit.

Plus look at the ratings, the ratings of most shows from pre-strike to post strike took a huge huge dive, unless you are on CBS, they ar doing great for whatever reason. 9 million viewers at 10pm is wonderful. A main problem with the show is the number of named actors, and then the cost is so high. So ABC rather have 5.5 million viewers for a cheap show.

 

[Hennessy Badger]

Yeah, abc did not do BL any favors.

I think BL was still in its first season when abc pulled it off the air (while it still had like five completed episodes left to air) to make way for Grey's Anatomy.

The network then made fans wait from early Spring until the Fall to see those episodes, which had to be re-edited (butchered more like) to fit the second season.

In between that and:

The switching of time slots

The writers strike

The complete lack of promotion ~ save for Emmy wins ~ which the network didn't really have a say in. (I'm sure abc would have preferred those wins go to Grey's or Brothers and Sisters)....

...It's shocking the show did as well as it did. The fact that it lasted five seasons is a testament to Kelley and the wonderful cast.

And loyal fans.

 

[Harvey]

I wonder if those unedited versions of those five season one episodes will ever see the light of day. It would definitely be an interesting exercise in filmmaking to see the differences.