Is The Show Too Funny? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

tvfan0101 · 10-25-2004, 01:13 PM

I realize that Boston Legal is not supposed to be a straight legal drama the way The Practice was, but does anyone think that the series is simply too funny? I have been watching since day one and I enjoy every episode. But to me, the shift from dramatic courtroom scene to amusing interaction between Alan Shore and Denny Crane feels weird.

I think the problem is those two characters. Alan Shore, who appears to be a brilliant lawyer, is too witty to appear realistic. He is very caustic and off-putting, which I suppose is somewhat realistic. And Denny Crane, a character who is supposed to be a caricature, fits the bill well. He is a caricature and nothing more. In last night's (10/24) episode he said his name several times and had one or two other lines of dialogue. And that is it.

Plus, add to that Edwin's "insanity" in the courtroom, which was outrageous, and what do you have? A show that, in my mind, is trying to do to the courtroom what M*A*S*H did to war.

The only problem is that boston Legal is not pulling it off the same way. I realize the show is new and admit that I do enjoy it. But I think it needs to strike a better balance between comedy and drama.

isiahthomas · 10-26-2004, 11:30 AM

This show is boring to me so far but William Shatner does crack me up when he keeps saying his name Denny Crain LOL. I wanna see what's gonna happen between James Spader & Lake Bell. What's Lake Bell's name on the show? I know that she's the tall woman who is attracted to James.

tvfan0101 · 10-26-2004, 12:28 PM

Lake Bell plays Sally, who is involved with Spader's character of Alan Shore.

I really want to know more about the character of Tara Wilson, played by Rhona Mitra. She has been in maybe one episode thus far. I believe next week's episode involves her more than the previous ones.

William Shatner is in fine form as Denny Crane, however.

isiahthomas · 10-26-2004, 03:18 PM

Lake Bell is 25 yrs old & James Spader is 44 yrs old in real life. Why are the writers of the show hookin them 2 up if they have such a big age gap between them? William is 73 yrs old. I had no idea he was that old. He sure doesn't look that old. Monica Potter is from my hometown Cleveland, Ohio. She's a decent actress but her character on Boston Legal is kinda boring. She needs more of a storyline. Rhona Mitra for some reason doesn't have much of a storyline. I don't know why. She's very attractive. I thought her & James were gonna hook up.

tvfan0101 · 10-26-2004, 10:58 PM

Age gaps have never stopped writers from introducing romances on television shows. And really, what are the odds that this thing Sally and Alan have is anything more than an office romance? It is a fling, nothing more.

I think Monica Potter's character is interesting, to be honest. So far, that is. There seems to be more to her than meets the eye. What I am trying to say, I guess, is that if the writers can take what they have given us so far about her (worried about being a good lawyer, etc) and build on it, then the character can be stronger and evolve. The same can be said for Sally. We know that she does not want to end up like Alan. The writers can use that.

As for Rhona's character, who knows. I cannot even remember anything about her.

felicitylen · 10-27-2004, 09:14 AM

I really like Boston Legal, and I have been watching from day one. I think Alan Shore's character is great. He adds something to the show. He was great on The Practice because he kind of lighten things up.

barwars · 10-29-2004, 10:01 PM

I never liked The Practice, however I love Boston Legal. A big part of this is because it is funny.

I think Spader and Shatner make a perfect duo.

ThirteenInchEscape · 11-22-2004, 03:41 AM

I never saw The Practice, but Boston Legal is making me regret that.

James Spader must be one of the greatest characters of all time.

"It's no wonder he would say that, seeing as he was a drunken pedophile"

"No he wasnt"

"You're right, no he wasnt"

isiahthomas · 11-22-2004, 11:21 AM

James Spader & William Shatner do make a great team. They both crack me up every week cause they're so funny. I was surprised to see James & Tara in the bed kissing yesterday at a motel. James doesn't have his own place? What is he doing at a motel with her? LOL.

Coffeecup · 01-17-2005, 03:06 PM

I've just tuned into the show. I' have seen Jan 9th and 16th episodes, both with Candice Bergen. The show is funny. The client Alan had was a screech. Bernard who hit his mother with the frying pan. James Spader has been around for a while. I think was in a teen type movie years ago.

isiahthomas · 01-18-2005, 02:38 PM

James has been around a long time. The teen movies you might be talkin about that he was in is Mannequin & Less Than Zero.

10-25-2004, 01:13 PM	#1
tvfan0101 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 29, 2003 Posts: 961	Is The Show Too Funny? I realize that Boston Legal is not supposed to be a straight legal drama the way The Practice was, but does anyone think that the series is simply too funny? I have been watching since day one and I enjoy every episode. But to me, the shift from dramatic courtroom scene to amusing interaction between Alan Shore and Denny Crane feels weird. I think the problem is those two characters. Alan Shore, who appears to be a brilliant lawyer, is too witty to appear realistic. He is very caustic and off-putting, which I suppose is somewhat realistic. And Denny Crane, a character who is supposed to be a caricature, fits the bill well. He is a caricature and nothing more. In last night's (10/24) episode he said his name several times and had one or two other lines of dialogue. And that is it. Plus, add to that Edwin's "insanity" in the courtroom, which was outrageous, and what do you have? A show that, in my mind, is trying to do to the courtroom what MASH* did to war. The only problem is that boston Legal is not pulling it off the same way. I realize the show is new and admit that I do enjoy it. But I think it needs to strike a better balance between comedy and drama.

11-22-2004, 03:41 AM	#8
ThirteenInchEscape Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Location: Palouse, Washington Posts: 1,218	I never saw The Practice, but Boston Legal is making me regret that. James Spader must be one of the greatest characters of all time. "It's no wonder he would say that, seeing as he was a drunken pedophile" "No he wasnt" "You're right, no he wasnt"
	__________________ *Member of the "God Lilith is so ing Cool" Fanclub* Freedom of Thought

10-26-2004, 11:30 AM	#2
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	This show is boring to me so far but William Shatner does crack me up when he keeps saying his name Denny Crain LOL. I wanna see what's gonna happen between James Spader & Lake Bell. What's Lake Bell's name on the show? I know that she's the tall woman who is attracted to James.

10-26-2004, 12:28 PM	#3
tvfan0101 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 29, 2003 Posts: 961	Lake Bell plays Sally, who is involved with Spader's character of Alan Shore. I really want to know more about the character of Tara Wilson, played by Rhona Mitra. She has been in maybe one episode thus far. I believe next week's episode involves her more than the previous ones. William Shatner is in fine form as Denny Crane, however.

10-26-2004, 03:18 PM	#4
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	Lake Bell is 25 yrs old & James Spader is 44 yrs old in real life. Why are the writers of the show hookin them 2 up if they have such a big age gap between them? William is 73 yrs old. I had no idea he was that old. He sure doesn't look that old. Monica Potter is from my hometown Cleveland, Ohio. She's a decent actress but her character on Boston Legal is kinda boring. She needs more of a storyline. Rhona Mitra for some reason doesn't have much of a storyline. I don't know why. She's very attractive. I thought her & James were gonna hook up.

10-26-2004, 10:58 PM	#5
tvfan0101 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 29, 2003 Posts: 961	Age gaps have never stopped writers from introducing romances on television shows. And really, what are the odds that this thing Sally and Alan have is anything more than an office romance? It is a fling, nothing more. I think Monica Potter's character is interesting, to be honest. So far, that is. There seems to be more to her than meets the eye. What I am trying to say, I guess, is that if the writers can take what they have given us so far about her (worried about being a good lawyer, etc) and build on it, then the character can be stronger and evolve. The same can be said for Sally. We know that she does not want to end up like Alan. The writers can use that. As for Rhona's character, who knows. I cannot even remember anything about her.

10-27-2004, 09:14 AM	#6
felicitylen Keep Austin WEIRD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 17, 2003 Location: Hook 'em Horns Posts: 1,606	I really like Boston Legal, and I have been watching from day one. I think Alan Shore's character is great. He adds something to the show. He was great on The Practice because he kind of lighten things up.

10-29-2004, 10:01 PM	#7
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	I never liked The Practice, however I love Boston Legal. A big part of this is because it is funny. I think Spader and Shatner make a perfect duo.

11-22-2004, 11:21 AM	#9
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	James Spader & William Shatner do make a great team. They both crack me up every week cause they're so funny. I was surprised to see James & Tara in the bed kissing yesterday at a motel. James doesn't have his own place? What is he doing at a motel with her? LOL.

01-17-2005, 03:06 PM	#10
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,181	I've just tuned into the show. I' have seen Jan 9th and 16th episodes, both with Candice Bergen. The show is funny. The client Alan had was a screech. Bernard who hit his mother with the frying pan. James Spader has been around for a while. I think was in a teen type movie years ago.

01-18-2005, 02:38 PM	#11
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	James has been around a long time. The teen movies you might be talkin about that he was in is Mannequin & Less Than Zero.