I haven’t been an avid television watcher now in years. Just haven’t had the time for it. Between drinking, playing shuffleboard, playing poker, working, and listening to live country music, there’s been precious little time for anything. And all of those things took a backseat to my children when they were born. So there’s just not much time for television.
But Boston Legal is a show that has completely won me over. I tuned in originally because I’m a big fan of William Shatner. I love the character of Captain Kirk, always have, and I always will. I didn’t expect to get pulled in to a television show that I refuse to miss every week. The last time I’ve been this involved in a television show was over 20 years ago when I was addicted to Moonlighting.
The two shows actually have something in common. The reason that I love the shows is because of the chemistry between the shows’ two main characters. In Moonlighting, it was the chemistry between Maddie and Dave. In Boston Legal, it’s the chemistry between Alan Shore and Denny Crane. Just because their characters don’t have a sexual chemistry doesn’t mean they don’t have chemistry. And that’s the cornerstone on which Boston Legal is built–Alan Shore and Denny Crane’s friendship.
There was a very touching moment at the end of last night’s episode. (Actually, there’s a touching moment at the end of just about every episode.) It’s the epilogue, and Denny Crane tells Allan Shore, “You know, I used to be a VERY remarkable man.” And Shore looks at him in disbelief, and replies, “You ARE a remarkable man, Denny.” And there’s something so heartfelt and real about the interaction between the two that you believe it. You feel sorry for this great man who is gradually losing his mental faculties, and you feel sorry for his friend who is having to watch him go through it.
And that’s what I love Boston Legal.