Is Boston Legal like The Paper Chase ? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Chocolate Moose · 05-08-2009, 02:07 PM

Is Boston Legal like The Paper Chase ?

Thank you.

ekkostar · 05-09-2009, 07:29 AM

Boston Legal is just an Arrested Development wannabe wrapped up in a court show.
It also killed John Larroquette's career (HE'S DOING CARTOON VOICES NOW INSTEAD OF GETTING REAL PARTS! THAT IS A SURE SIGN!!!).

Raisingdad2004 · 05-09-2009, 09:47 AM

I haven't seen The Paper Chase, but I can tell you what Boston Legal is/was like.

Half of the time it wasn't serious at all, the characters and situations ranged from funny to ridiculous, the rest of the time it was serious and was preachy "on the soap-box" type of thing.

It got worse as it went on, and now realize weighing the show as a whole: most of time it wasn't that good. Season 1 was a mix because the show hadn't figured out what it wanted to be. Season 2 was quite good. Season 3 spent most of its time on a boring storyline. Season 4 & 5 it tended to go off the deep-end and became absolutely silly.

As I said before, it was also very politically preachy. I don't mean it debated political issues, it didn't - it told you what to think. It was spending most of its time preaching what one might call 'typical hollywood values'. I don't think it's a coincidence the show went off air just before Bush left office - ranting about Bush pretty much became the raison d'être of the show.

Mr. Television · 05-09-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raisingdad2004

I haven't seen The Paper Chase, but I can tell you what Boston Legal is/was like.

Half of the time it wasn't serious at all, the characters and situations ranged from funny to ridiculous, the rest of the time it was serious and was preachy "on the soap-box" type of thing.

It got worse as it went on, and now realize weighing the show as a whole: most of time it wasn't that good. Season 1 was a mix because the show hadn't figured out what it wanted to be. Season 2 was quite good. Season 3 spent most of its time on a boring storyline. Season 4 & 5 it tended to go off the deep-end and became absolutely silly.

As I said before, it was also very politically preachy. I don't mean it debated political issues, it didn't - it told you what to think. It was spending most of its time preaching what one might call 'typical hollywood values'. I don't think it's a coincidence the show went off air just before Bush left office - ranting about Bush pretty much became the raison d'être of the show.

It was like all David E. Kelley Shows.

Raisingdad2004 · 05-09-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

It was like all David E. Kelley Shows.

True. Except, it was, in my view, worse than all the others. It took preaching and sillyness to new levels. The finale of BL was just mad.

I quite liked Picket Fences, it was less preachy and more balanced (there'd always be characters putting up the other issue of an issue, unlike on Boston Legal). I don't know what Ally McBeal was like, but I suspect it was less preachy than BLegal as well.

Mr. Television · 05-09-2009, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raisingdad2004

True. Except, it was, in my view, worse than all the others. It took preaching and sillyness to new levels. The finale of BL was just mad.

I quite liked Picket Fences, it was less preachy and more balanced (there'd always be characters putting up the other issue of an issue, unlike on Boston Legal). I don't know what Ally McBeal was like, but I suspect it was less preachy than BLegal as well.

Yea I liked Picket Fences too. The characters were so outrageous that you had to laugh. I also enjoyed the Practice (which BL was a spin off from) but after awhile it became too much. I have to admit, I've only seen a couple episodes of BL but it didn't seem as good as DEK's past hits.

JulieSomoski · 05-09-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

Yea I liked Picket Fences too. The characters were so outrageous that you had to laugh. I also enjoyed the Practice (which BL was a spin off from) but after awhile it became too much. I have to admit, I've only seen a couple episodes of BL but it didn't seem as good as DEK's past hits.

The Practice was very good in its early to middle seasons, around 3-5. I like Boston Legal a lot. I like the fact that it can be silly at times, and it's one liners are some of the funniest I've ever heard. Besides that, it's a good court show, with a good cast of characters.

And no, it's nothing like The Paper Chase.

comedyfreak · 05-09-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocolate Moose

Is Boston Legal like The Paper Chase ?

Thank you.

No the two are very different shows.

Torgo · 05-19-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekkostar

It also killed John Larroquette's career (HE'S DOING CARTOON VOICES NOW INSTEAD OF GETTING REAL PARTS! THAT IS A SURE SIGN!!!).

Real parts? You mean like Beethoven 5 and Richie Rich?

05-08-2009, 02:07 PM	#1
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,886	Is Boston Legal like The Paper Chase ? Is Boston Legal like The Paper Chase ? Thank you.
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05-09-2009, 07:29 AM	#2
ekkostar Coffee, Tea & Larroquette! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Posts: 1,077	Boston Legal is just an Arrested Development wannabe wrapped up in a court show. It also killed John Larroquette's career (HE'S DOING CARTOON VOICES NOW INSTEAD OF GETTING REAL PARTS! THAT IS A SURE SIGN!!!).
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05-09-2009, 09:47 AM	#3
Raisingdad2004 Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 05, 2004 Posts: 715	I haven't seen The Paper Chase, but I can tell you what Boston Legal is/was like. Half of the time it wasn't serious at all, the characters and situations ranged from funny to ridiculous, the rest of the time it was serious and was preachy "on the soap-box" type of thing. It got worse as it went on, and now realize weighing the show as a whole: most of time it wasn't that good. Season 1 was a mix because the show hadn't figured out what it wanted to be. Season 2 was quite good. Season 3 spent most of its time on a boring storyline. Season 4 & 5 it tended to go off the deep-end and became absolutely silly. As I said before, it was also very politically preachy. I don't mean it debated political issues, it didn't - it told you what to think. It was spending most of its time preaching what one might call 'typical hollywood values'. I don't think it's a coincidence the show went off air just before Bush left office - ranting about Bush pretty much became the raison d'être of the show.
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