(S03E13) Shirley Schmidt: This is getting ugly.
Denny Crane: Denny Crane ugly.
The whole Denise-Brad-Jeffrey sex plot has got to go! At first I thought it was kind of amusing. But, after three weeks of it the whole storyline has reached the tiring stage, especially if you saw the scenes from next week's show. It's like watching an episode of The O.C., except with much older people. Frankly, I really don't care who Denise is sleeping with. Hell, she could be sleeping with Paul for all that matters (that would make a much better story). It's time to get past it and have these three focus on the Legal portion of Boston Legal.
Now, with that out of the way, let's press on with this week's fairly Alan Shore-free episode.
The main focus was on the more entertaining Denny-Bethany-Bella love triangle. When we last left Denny he was jetting off to Hawaii to be with Bella, who is Bethany's mother. He was quite truthful with Bethany about it and she was a bit miffed. In fact, she tackled Denny to the ground. That's one powerful little person!
Anyway, this week Bethany took her mother on in court as the attorney for a animal rights group that was harassing Bella and her cosmetics firm. Defending Bella in the case was not Alan Shore, but Denny and Shirley Schmidt. This was interesting because Denny was ready to dump Bella for Bethany. There were some fairly good lines during this court case, the only one featured this week (because the whole Denise-Jeffrey-Brad story was so fascinating. Stop it, Rich! Bad reviewer!), and Denny actually sounded quite intelligent when questioning the opposing witness. I didn't quite get Shirley's statement to the court, though. I think she was defending Bella, but then again perhaps she wasn't.
While we are on the subject of Bethany and Denny I should mention two reoccurring gags from this season that resurfaced in this week's episode. The first was the one where Denny talks somewhat badly about Bethany, unbeknownst to him that she's standing right next to him. We've haven't seen that since last year. The second gag involved Denny speaking from his heart to Bethany. In reality it isn't his heart, but rather Alan Shore holding up cue cards for Denny to read. Both gags are funny no matter how many times you see them and I'm glad they were back this week.
Moving on, let's talk about Clarence and Claire. If any two characters have changed this season it has been these two. When we were first introduced to Claire she was shown as a hard-nose attorney from New York. But, as the season has progressed she's soften up quite a bit. So much so that she decided to go on a date with her assistant Clarence. When we first met Clarence he was, well, Clarice. Since then he has been more Clarence than he has been his other alter egos (although his Oprah persona did make an appearance this week). I'll be honest here, these two make a cute couple. I'd rather see a few weeks of this storyline than the one with Denise, Brad, and Jeffrey.
Before I go I just have to mention the costume party that was held at the end of the episode. According to Paul, everyone had to come as someone they admired. Paul himself came as Albert Einstein, Shirley came as Diane Sawyer (although she could've been Diane Keaton), Denny came as Dick Cheney, complete with loaded shotgun, Denise showed up as Jennifer Aniston, complete with Angelina Jolie voodoo doll, and both Brad and Jeffrey appeared as Buzz Lightyear (love that corporate synergy), which led to a fight between the two. The funniest appearance was Alan Shore, who came to the party as Shirley Schmidt-Ho (the inflatable doll that bears an uncanny resemblance to Shirley). When the camera panned to Alan in that outfit I just broke up laughing.
Although not alot of lawyering, a pretty decent episode.
Five other TV shows where Sarah Palin should appear
Brought To You By ... - VIDEOS
Giveaway Monday: How I Met Your Mother season three DVD
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-31-2007 @ 10:42AM
Bob Jones said...
Boston Legal is made by Fox, why would they want to push Buzz Lightyear?
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 10:46AM
MacGuffin said...
The reason for the whole Denise-Brad-Jeffrey sex plot is that Julie Bowen is preggers in real life (she was on the Late, Late Show last night). I think it could have been handled even more comedically, but next week might be a good resolution to this arc.
All in all, a pretty satisfying episode.
Waiting for a classic David E. Kelley/Boston Legal episode with some great new characters in the upcoming sweeps.
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 10:48AM
Josh L said...
Boston Legal is made by FOX ? Um, no:
http://abc.go.com/primetime/bostonlegal/index.html
And last time I checked, ABC is owned by Disney (which also owns Pixar).
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 11:05AM
Sydne said...
I found this episode highly entertaining.
I'm glad that the producers brought Meredith Eaton-Gilden back. I hope she keeps showing up. I'd love to see her work at the firm and not just a recurring love interest for Denny. She's amazing!
Alan dressed as Shirley Schmidt-ho was priceless. If he couldn't be Shirley, why not be the next best thing.
Like the reviewer, I agree the whole Denise/Brad/Jeffery plotline has to go. Heck, lets just see Jeffery go.
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 11:09AM
Bart Smith said...
3. Boston Legal is made by FOX ? Um, no:
http://abc.go.com/primetime/bostonlegal/index.html
And last time I checked, ABC is owned by Disney (which also owns Pixar).
_____________________________
ABC airs BOSTON LEGAL, but it is produced by 20th Century Fox Television.
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 11:16AM
Akbar Fazil said...
Lets also remember last season Brad was referred to by Parker Posey's character as Buzz Lightyear so it can be a little more than just synergy.
Fox may produce the show, but airing on ABC which is owned by Disney can easily allow them to get away with stuff like that.
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 11:36AM
CastingGod said...
I think your beginning quote is the other way around. I believe Shirley said"Denny Crane ugly"
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 11:53AM
Tim UF said...
did anyone else initially think that bethany painted bella to make her look like a smurf??
the weekly whiskey and cigar was amusing, with Alan and Denny still in costume.
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 11:55AM
Richard Keller said...
Folks, if you have issues with the interracial relationships on this show please do not address them in this forum. This is a review of the program, only. If you have issues with that please find another website to express your feelings.
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 11:59AM
David said...
Well Boston Legal is sucking.
The only good things from the episodes are the normal running gags. I liked the very beginning and the endings.
The beginning had the "Your gun always went off too early" joke, that was great.
At the very end they had the dancing in the dress and the "that lump is your moment". Plus they had the "If the are regular views they know anything goes".
The best part of the show was Clarence and Claire, they are really gonig somewhere with them.
I'm hoping A LOT (Which is two words!) that Denise, Brad, and Jeffrey all get fired at the end of the season. You know how much they like adding new people just to get rid of them. Plus whatever happened to "I always play safe", yeah right.
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 12:32PM
Dvorah Toller said...
I loved Alan's segment with the "yellow dress". James Spader has done a great job developing his character.
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 12:36PM
Akbar Fazil said...
costume parties must be the big thing to do in boston. This is like the third one we've seen on the show right? (although the first two were Halloween)
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 1:01PM
Craig said...
I too have a problem with how interracial relationships are portrayed on this show. Did Denny really have to dump Bella because her skin is blue?
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 1:50PM
adam said...
seems funny to me one can say anything good about interracial relations or homosexuality, its gets put on here, but say something negative and you lose your comment. another demonstration of liberalism in the left wing media. i stand behind what i said earlier, now go head and delete this one too...RICHARD.
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 2:14PM
malren said...
What on earth could you say about an interracial relationship that was negative? So Alan wants to see where a possible relationship with a woman who *dressed as his ideal for a costume party*. Who cares that she's black? Why on earth could that possibly matter? What is wrong with you that it would matter to you?
Sometimes I am reminded of how much I still hate people.
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 2:17PM
Richard Keller said...
I'm not going to delete your post, Adam. If you have issues with interracial couples please post it to another item, not this one.
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 8:22PM
Kevinc said...
What was with the lame ass Yankee guy?
Reply
1-31-2007 @ 10:28PM
john gula iii said...
Boston Legal is finally going somewhere the show has never gone before. Denise is knocked up. Alan Shore is going to to be a daddy. Let's not forget Alan plopped Denise on his desk and gave her a pumping on the previous episode. Well,I'm just assumming,because that is the only clever way to save this season.
Reply
2-01-2007 @ 1:11AM
Akbar Fazil said...
I doubt 100% that Alan is the father. There is no way Denise would have allowed Alan to actually have any kind of sex with her. She was out of his office as fast as she could when she realized that her little trick backfired.
I am all for human relationships on the show. (not knowing what ignorant statment was said earlier I must say why is an interracial relationship still an issue? Are we all not the same species?)
Especially when two people who we have seen grow from client to friendship/coworkers to a relationship and have it all be believable.
Reply
2-01-2007 @ 7:43AM
Alicia said...
I thought at first Claire argeeing to go out on a date with Clarence was to boost his ego, make him comfortable, but the way she opened up to him over dinner, and then at the costume party at the end... Oh yeah, I'm digging it. Certainly better than that *yawn* Denise-Jeffrey-Brad thingy.
A fine episode, but by far not the best one.
Reply