Head Cases

This pilot episode of Boston Legal gets off to a fast start. It introduces us to the characters kind of on the run and interestingly as this series starts there are more younger women (eye candy) in this and the early episodes than there are later on in the season. Coming from the same producer as Ally McBeal, it is not surprising that music gets a piece of the action in this episode as it did often in that David E Kelley series as well.

I just got the DVD's of this and the deleted scenes on it for this pilot are not anything major though some of the story line skipped for those scenes are used in later episodes. It was great to see William Shatner back in a new TV series when this show comes on. He really does comedy well here because he can do the funniest material while pretty much keeping a straight face.

Denny Crane and Alan Shore are what this series is about and the characters get together in this first episode somewhat. Crane(Shatner) is the great name lawyer who is slipping due to age factors. Shore (James Spader) is the best and youngest lawyer in the firm. Part of the appeal to this series is started here which is Shore using Crane as a mentor and a friend. The way these actors play the roles make this very believable.

This episode features a great cameo by Rev. Al Sharpton who comes into court to surprise and aid Shore in the case of trying to get a settlement for a little girl who get turned down for playing orphan Annie on Broadway. There are other story lines which start as well as the Annie one is pretty much finished in this show.

Part of the strength of David E Kelley series are that the comedy is funny, the cast does very well, and the story lines and characters are woven into multiple episodes. This pilot is no exception. It is a very good introduction to this series.

I, feel this was a good episode. And no it's not about people who feeling like entitled. I It's about the diversity. So I guess you can would just say that get a Caucasian to pl a native American, like, it used to be done, back in the day. Some people are just stuck in the in the morning about past. Their own minds haven't been grown.

Since I watched all of The Practice, especially the last season, I got to know several of the characters and their quirks. I never judge a series on the pilot because I know it takes a few episodes for traction to develop. We know that Shore is a magician. He actually is able to do anything, but we never know how he goes about it. Shatner plays a nutcase who has great power and success. There is already conflict between Shore and the handsome lead attorney. Al Sharpton showing up was just plain stupid. Obviously, some political star power to get things rolling. Two cases: The thing with the lead in Annie is a circus. Nice seeing Sharon Lawrence as the judge--she is one of the most attractive women ever. And the vindictive absentee father who decides to use his children to punish the career of his wife.