Bella needs a defense against animal activists, and the prescription is…Denny Crane, of course.
The sight of the amply-proportioned Bella wearing a fur coat might very well prompt Denny to mistake her for a bear and shoot her.
Well, that took the “Legal” right out of Boston Legal. Someone needs to get murdered and have Alan Shore be their only hope pretty soon, or something.
Not a BAD episode, and the last part in particular was pretty fun… but I long for a string of episodes that is less soap opera and more Boston Legal, y’know.
Though, the fact that the way to a woman’s heart is not through her mother’s privates was always something I needed cleared up.
Shirley: I told you not to come dressed as me.
Alan: I know. That’s why I came dressed as the doll.
Was Vanessa (in yellow dress) the attorney that tried the death penalty case with Alan in Texas?
No, she tried the euthanasia case in New Orleans with Alan and Denny. After that case finished, she was invited to the Boston office.
Alan holding up the cue cards for Denny was a GREAT moment! 
I haven’t watched this since the first season. I really enjoyed this episode. I was really confused by the guy with…multiple personalities? I guess. He came to the party as Oprah. What’s his story?
Best part of the whole episode.
Was there an occasion for the costume party?
Because of my work schedule I don’t catch the show every week. But I do enjoy it when I do watch it. I have always liked David Kelly shows up to a point. He always reaches a point where the shows self destruct (to me anyway) . When he reaches that point I can’t watch anymore. I think he may be getting close with Clarence. One of the most annoying characters on TV heading into a stupid relationship.
Odo said he hired a consultant who recommended a costume party to boost morale. They were each supposed to come as someone the admired.
I think Clarence is sweet and the actor is doing a great job with the character. It also helps that whenever the show focuses on Clarence, Connie Zimmer is there, and she’s hotter than a blacktop at midday in Death Valley - in August.
I do agree though, that there must be a healthy mix of soap opera with court room hijinks, and this ep had too much soap.
There were so many good lines but “I could have dressed up as Tom Cruise and we could have stayed at home and jumped on the couch [paraphrased]” was a high point for me.
Brad and Jeff were fun fun as Buzz Lightyear(s), but that whole love triangle has to stop.
Clarence’s story started out pretty interesting but has devolved.
His first appearance on BL was as Clarice, a strong, brash, independent woman with lots of personality. As Clarice, he’d been a member of a women-only gym. The other members weren’t fooled by the disguise but they liked Clarice and let her stay.
When Clarence wanted to ditch the Clarice persona and come to the gym as himself, he was kicked out. So he went to CPS to sue for discrimination. I don’t remember how that was resolved.
Then surprise! Turns out Clarence has a law degree. He shows up for an interview for a position as Claire’s assistant. She hires him, but insists he be himself at the office.
He’s been in and out as Clarence, Clarice, and Oprah.
I liked this episode – Alan was gorgeous as Shirley, and I can see why Denny was attracted to him. 
But the Clarence-Claire relationship is unbelievable. There’s no chemistry between the actors, and the characters aren’t showing chemistry either, as anything more than friends.
Hear, hear. I’ve been catching up on previous seasons by watching them on DVD. Even the early episodes come perilously close to the shark, but the over-the-top quirkiness is charming. But hot-babe lawyer hooking up with neurotic subordinate? Cue cards, for God’s sake? I’m still giving it a chance, but I see the ramp starting to take shape.