Robert Downey Jr.'s Comeback

[DarleneIllyria]

Courtesy Getty Images Evan Agostini
Robert Downey Jr.'s Comeback
September 9, 2003


ROBERT DOWNEY JR., in one of his first roles since putting his legal woes behind him, is playing a bed-ridden, failed novelist in 'The Singing Detective.' Downey's old friend and 'Air America' co-star, MEL GIBSON, produced the film and took a chance on hiring the troubled-but-talented actor. And so far, the buzz for the rather bizarre musical has been positive. Gibson, although nearly unrecognizable, also stars as Downey's psychiatrist who's determined to make Downey face his childhood demons. The film is playing at the Toronto International Film Festival this week and hits theaters this fall.

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After Ally McBeal captured the zeitgeist, Robert Downey Jr. found the show’s heart

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I only watched the season that he was on it and I loved him and Ally together. They were adorable.

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How Ally McBeal Was Saved By Robert Downey Jr (& Then Killed Again)

The introduction of Robert Downey Jr. in Ally McBeal saved the show, but his departure also spelled his character's death. Premiering in 1997, the Fox legal comedy-drama focused on Calista Flockhart's titular character — a lawyer based at the Boston firm, Cage (Peter MacNichol) and Fish (Greg Germann). While the show's weekly stories involved cases that are handled by McBeal and her co-workers, its main draw was its character's personal lives, especially their romantic pursuits.

For McBeal, there were several potential mates introduced throughout the years of Ally McBeal, but only one stood out: Larry Paul. Played by Downey Jr., the character was debuted and became a series regular in season 4. That's on the heels of season 3 where ratings considerably dropped following a successful first two years where it won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy in both 1997 and 1998. It also bagged Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1999. Given all these acclaims, the producers of the show needed to shake things up and they found a way to do that by bringing in the prolific Downey Jr.

Given his good looks, inherent charm, and chemistry with McBeal, Paul's debut was a massive success. Couple that with the hiring of a new art director in Matthew DeCoste, and ratings for Ally McBeal once again stabilized in season 4. In terms of narrative, Paul's involvement gave McBeal’s narrative a more exciting spin, and since the series was really more about the characters' personal lives, seeing her find someone who's objectively good for her was so satisfying to watch. On the flip side, Paul's arc was also compelling, with McBeal eventually bringing the romantic out in him. The pair was so good together that Ally McBeal writers knew that they were meant for each other; so much so that after their planned wedding, season 5 of the series was going to shift focus on their married life.

Unfortunately, this was a point when Downey Jr. was still struggling personally. He has had a tumultuous decade marred with various controversies capped off with a stint in jail. Ally McBeal was going to be his path back into Hollywood. However, he was always teetering on the edge during his stint in the show, not that it ever showed on-screen. Instead, Downey played Paul with the charm and wit that the actor has been known for. But while he performed his job well, he was getting increasingly difficult to work with behind-the-scenes. He was then fired from the gig which forced Ally McBeal to rewrite season 5 which fell flat, resulting in its eventual cancelation.

It would be several more years before Downey finally found his footing and worked diligently in reviving his career. He starred in director Shane Black's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) and David Fincher's Zodiac (2006) before landing his role as Tony Stark in Jon Favreau's Iron Man (2008) which kicked off and changed the MCU. But before all this, Downey's stint in Ally McBeal was a reminder of what he's capable of as an actor, regrettably, his personal issues got in the way of what could've been a longer and better run for the series. Perhaps with a revival in development, Downey can revisit his role as Paul and reunite with her.

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Robert Downey Jr. Both Saved and Shook Up ‘Ally McBeal’

The 'Oppenheimer' star has a complicated history with the David E. Kelley series.