I won’t be able to watch my tape until tomorrow, but am starting this up for you Legalites anyhow.
Tom Selleck shows up tonight? Huh. I wasn’t expecting that.
Let’s see what happens…
Good episode. I had to IMDB Jayne Brook – she played Rachel, Paul’s estranged daughter. She was Dr. Diane Grad on Chicago Hope, and she’s worked steadily since then but not in anything that I’ve seen. I hope we see more of her, but I hope that it’s not because of a terminal illness or a kidnapped grandchild. Boston Legal doesn’t do that stuff, do they?
Sorry, AuntiePam, but for my wife and me this was the weakest episode so far.
The whole thing with Selleck’s new bride was way too grating and silly to work for us except to want it to be over.
Yes, the interaction of the lost daughter with Rene’s character was touching but it just helped to show why they don’t involve Rene in much more important scenes than they do.
For me the only thing that helped to save the episode was the balcony bit with Shatner and Spader. That always seem to work and this time it was about all that saved the episode.
I don’t need any more Selleck, although he’s been outstanding in his Westerns. And Candice’s portion of the episode was middling at best. She’s capable of better, but the writing seemed flat when it wasn’t over-the-top.
I could have gone a long time without that singing at the wedding. Ouch!
Does David E. Kelley have a contract with Joss Whedon to keep actors from his shows in work? The defendant this week was the poor mail clerk who almost got torched in Firefly’s “The Message.” Two weeks ago we had Dr. Sparrow from Angel as the DA. And the guy who played Hands was Balthazar on Buffy. I’m not complaining but it’s odd seeing so many familiar faces… Do the shows have the same casting director or something?
It may well have been. 
I’m not a regular viewer. What made it stand out for me was getting the other side of a “tough love” story. I liked how they worked it out so we got both points of view.
I agree the bride was silly, but it was kinda sad, knowing that she was just Wife #7 and there’ll probably soon be a #8. Unless Ivan is just too tired to do it all again.
Don’t forget, she’s indefatigable!
I’d say no. Not even a little bit.
The defendant this week was well-established character actor Maury Chaykin, who’s done a lot more high-profile work than a cameo on a show that, much as I liked it, nobody really watched. Including the lead in his own series on A&E.
Christian Clemenson (Hands) does quite a lot of guest spots, and might be better known in some circles as Socrates Poole from “The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.” than from a one-shot guest role on Buffy. Plus he’s worked on one of David E. Kelly’s shows before.
Marc Vann (the DA) has also been doing guest spots for a while. And did 20 episodes as a character on a different show, as opposed to his 3 on Angel. In fact, all of those guys have done that other show at one point or another. The show? CSI.
So even if there was a connection (again, unlikely) it might make more sense to connect them to one of the most popular shows on TV than to anything else. But there isn’t any sign of that either.
Just a coincidence brought about by the fact that all those shows use a lot of guests.
As far as this episode goes, I liked the things to stop her from laughing.
“Bill Buckner.” Sweet.
I was a big fan of CH and happy to see both Arkin and Brook again.
Yes, the singing was irritating, but that’s exactly what smarmy people are.
Still, the best bit for me is Spader and Shatner smoking and drinking on the balcony at the end of the day. They end almost every ep. that way, or at least it seems so.
How often do they get self-referential? Shatner made a remark at the start about the “story line”, and it’s a toss-up whether he was talking about the Alzheimer’s case or the show. I like that.
A couple of eps ago, Alan said to Denny, “I’ve hardly seen you this episode.”
That’s the only other time as far as I know.
I don’t recall the exact quote but I seem to remember Shatner saying something about winning an Emmy several episodes back.
I just re-watched 1.05 (to see Rhona Mitra in that Robin outfit). A comment that wooshed me at the time, but was clear now was the staff meeting. Alan Shore complains that he’s bored. He doesn’t get any interesting cases. Paul says:
“Is there some place you’d rather be?” in a menacing tone. Shore replies:
“Cable. That’s where all the best work is done.”
The whole 2nd season is a bit more smarmy than the first, but still fun. I keep thinking that I’d love to see Spader and Shatner do a stage show in a proper theatre with theirt characters sitting on a balcony, smoking cigars, drinking scotch and talking about life.
The references to Alzheimers and the coonstant cutting to Shatner was more grating than the singing.
And as a staright male, I have to say: Geez - Tom Selleck is handsome. No one can wear a suit like he does.
No sight of the two young lawyers (thankfully) or Mark Valley in this episode. What happens to his DA aspirations?
The end of the euthanasia case threw me for a loop, I wasn’t expecting a Law and Order twist!! They don’t usually do that…and it really gave me the creeps. But Denny summed it up humorously: “So your client was actually guilty!!? I HATE when that happens!” 
I’m really looking forward to next week!! “Where’s Denny?” “I saw him in the coat room a couple minutes ago!!” Should be hilarious.
LOVE the idea of Shatner and Spader doing a stage show, how fun would that be!??
I also liked bringing more of Paul (Rene Auberjonois) into the show. They seem to have a glut of great actors here…Auberjonois, Bergen, Shatner, Spader, not to mention all the great guest shots, so I’ve always felt that Paul’s character got the short shrift. It took me awhile also to recognize the actress playing his daughter but I finally remembered her from Chicago Hope.
There’s not much I DON’T like about this show. Thank goodness for all the Emmy’s they’ve won or ABC might have pulled the plug by now. They can’t be doing all that well up against American Idol. I’m hoping for the best, though!
No, that was Al Pugliese.
Is anyone else getting a Really Bad Feeling from the last balcony scene? It sounds like Shatner’s preparing himself for an exit.
I certainly hope not a full exit. Perhaps they’re going to take him into darker territory than the show has traveled so far. Even with the topical issues and the political jabs the show is basically a comedy. Maybe they’re trying to set up a little more dramatic treatment of Denny’s ailment(s).
Why would Shatner leave the show? He owns it as it is.
Pretty much It’s just that Shatner’s whole speech comes off as something a character would say wistfully before tragedy strikes in the next episode–tempting fate.
I don’t think they’d do that, but there’s a little nagging worry in the back of my head all the same.