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Archive for December 10th, 2007

Boston Legal Balances Itself in Fourth Season

Add comment December 10th, 2007

Boston LegalThe fourth season of David E. Kelley’s “Practice” spin-off turns up the drama and the comedy. The show finds the ethically-challenged lawyer Alan Shore (James Spader) and his wacky, egotistical colleague Denny Crane (William Shatner) challenged by new senior partner Carl Sack (John Larroquette), who aims to curtail the law firm’s inherent wackiness. Other additions include Emmy Award-winning guest star Christian Clemenson, who plays Jerry Espenson, a brilliant lawyer with Asperger syndrome, as well as the intrepid British lawyer Katie Lloyd (Tara Summers). Most of the show’s storyline focuses on Denny’s struggle to feel relevant in his older years, as well as Shore coming to grips with his feeling for ex-flame Lorraine (Saffron Burrows). As with past seasons, Kelley has created more characters than he has time to include each episode, and several characters, including Lorraine, feel less developed as a result. Boston Legal airs on ABC Tuesday at 9:00 P.M.

Life Injects Much-Needed Vitality into Police Drama

Add comment December 10th, 2007

LifeStory separates NBC’s “Life” from a sea of Law And Order’s and CSI’s. Damian Lewis plays Detective Charlie Crews, who is sentenced to life in prison after being framed for murder. Exonerated twelve years later, Crews returns to his job at the LAPD with a healthy amount of settlement money and a Zen attitude. Played against documentary interviews of Crews’ family and friends, “Life” is divided between Crews and partner Dani Reese’s (Sarah Shahi) attempt to solve crimes, and Crews’ own quest to discover who set him up. Though the transition is jarring, the focus on story instead of stand-alone cases is a welcome change. Lewis carries the show, imbuing the quirky Crews with depth and a darker side. Shahi’s Reese is also a good straight woman for Crews’ persistent pondering. “Life” airs on NBC Wednesday at 9:00 PM.