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Here's why I'm dropping Boston Legal

by Richard Keller, posted Feb 6th 2007 10:30PM

Boston Legal CastSure, I could have titled this post 'Why I'm Declaring a Mistrial on Boston Legal' or 'Case Adjourned on Boston Legal'. But, you're a smart bunch a people who aren't into the corny. So, let me be truthful for a moment and let you know why I'm no longer going to review Boston Legal.

I'm tired.

Well, that's only one reason, but a very important one. It's going to sound like a kvetch, I know, but it is a bit tiring to review a show week after week, particularly one that airs at the end of prime-time. You have to schedule for it, watch it in a different manner then you would if you were a normal viewer, and then cull the highlights of the show into a 10-15 paragraph review. When the show you're reviewing is getting a bit dull, writing a post on it can become a chore.

And, that's where I am with Boston Legal right now.

Oh, the show is still good. The cast is strong (particularly James Spader and William Shatner), the writing is still funny, and the cases are still fairly compelling. But, there's a bit of sameness creeping into the show. In each episode you'll find Alan Shore yearning for Shirley Schmidt, or any good-looking woman inside or outside the firm, Denny Crane yearning for Shirley Schmidt, or any good-looking woman inside or outside the firm, Paul saying very little, Brad and Jeffrey fighting like six-year-old boys, and Denise being totally underutilized.

When that sameness sets in the show is not fun to watch anymore. And when it's not fun, then the review seems to take forever to write. I've noticed this over the last few weeks. I can write a review of Bones or ER in 20 minutes time because I enjoy those shows. But not Boston Legal.

So, you can scream, tell me I'm spoiled and say my feet smell because I stopped reviewing Boston Legal. What it comes down to is that I would feel like a fake to you fans of the show if I continued to write up weekly reviews. Hopefully, another member of the TV Squad team will pick it up. Until then, I thank you for all of the comments.

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jordancda

Alright...its a couple weeks later. I would like to present the argument that last week's episode was one of the best of the season if not THE best. Jeffery is gone (hopefully for good), Denny and Alan were in prime form, and we got more of Mr. Poole (which we've all be wanting more of). AND, to top it off, the cases were compelling for the first time in awhile. I genuinely cared how the Haitian murder case turned out. Review BL again!!!

February 19 2007 at 1:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mel

"Hopefully, another member of the TV Squad team will pick it up"

You see the glass as half full don't you, Plan B?

They don't tend to pick up shows which another writer has dropped as well.

February 09 2007 at 2:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Miryam

I LOVE Boston Legal! It is fresh and challenging every show. This week's episode was one of the best!! It carries themes, but that makes it creative, not repetitive. I'll keep watching and I'll jujst have to enjoy talking about it with friends instead of checking in here.

February 09 2007 at 12:10 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Plan B

It seems everyone missed the part where he said someone else would probably be taking over the recaps. Perhaps the fans should be thankful that someone who doesn't enjoy the show and can't do it justice is handing the reins over to someone else who does. Just some thoughts.

February 08 2007 at 9:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ManekiNeko

Boston Legal has all the usual problems of a David E. Kelley show. When it's not on its smug, self-righteous political soapbox, it goes to outrageous lengths to be, well, outrageous. The end result is a show that's too preachy to be fun, and too ridiculous to take seriously.

At the rate this show is going, it will only be a matter of time before William Shatner starts hitting swans with a hockey stick and James Spader starts urinating on black fourth graders. No thanks.

JR

February 08 2007 at 2:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
john gula iii

I AM NOT GIVING UP ON THIS SHOW YET.REMEMBER NYPD BLUE DIDN'T TAKE OFF UNTIL AFTER THREE SEASONS. ABOUT THIS WEEK'S SHOW,I THOUGHT THAT THE STORY LINE WITH THE JUDGE WITH THE "SAM SEX ATTRACTION DISORDER" WAS LAME.BUT I THINK IT WAS AMASING HOW THEY RAN IT AFTER THE SNICKERS AD THAT RAN DURING THE SUPER BOWL. IT HAD TO BE A SET UP. COMMON NOW,THEY CAN'T GET THAT LUCKY. AS FOR DENISE,SHE IS A COMPLETE LIAR. ALAN IS THE FATHER. IT IS TO BAD THAT WE WON'T REALLY KNOW UNTIL THE SEASON FINILE.

February 07 2007 at 11:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
TomB

Don't quit your day job.

February 07 2007 at 7:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mel

I'll be more interested now to hear Mr Keller's or McDuffee's thoughts on this.

It seems to me that criticisms are usually ignored here and I'm pretty much disappointed in that.

I do realise Keller has a child, he missed a review once because the kid was sick apparently. But come on, I still stand by professionalism is something that can't be tossed away whenever.

As for those who call this just a blog, perhaps you don't realise that its this sort of attitude by the writer and the apathetic readers that perpetuate this sort of negative perception of blogs?

February 07 2007 at 1:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jackie

It would be nice if reviews for shows were committed to last through a season before being dropped by TVSquad. Once they're listed in your sidebar on the site, readers expect some sort of coverage.

That said, at least something was said about dropping the reviews of Boston Legal. That's better than dropping The Apprentice without a word after the season premiere's review this season - I'm talking about TVSquad, of course.

Although the site is a blog, it's more of a magazine with comments rather than a blog as it lists no links other than to its own stuff and the writers are paid to submit articles.

I don't think the timing of the announcement was well thought out, but there ya go. I do understand the act of reviewing shows and how it's very different from the average viewer enjoying shows as I've done it myself for years. But, once I commit to a series, I usually try to write until the current season ends whether I'm loving the show or not. I do think it would have been more fair to the readers to make this announcement shortly after the last review rather than standing them up on this one.

February 07 2007 at 12:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Akbar Fazil

I would also like to point out that you haven't even reviewed a full season of the show. In fact, only until this season did BL get any kind of full attention from TVS. I was sad that TVS wasn't reviewing the show in season 1. Then only a small handful (2 reviews I believe) from someone else.

Again, I am not trying to attack Richard at all, I just would like to see this show continue to get attention here.

February 07 2007 at 12:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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