Boston Legal - wikipedia Boston Legal Boston Legal Genre Legal drama Comedy - drama Created by David E. Kelley Starring James Spader Candice Bergen William Shatner Monica Potter Mark Valley Rhona Mitra Lake Bell René Auberjonois Julie Bowen Ryan Michelle Bathe Justin Mentell Constance Zimmer Craig Bierko Gary Anthony Williams John Larroquette Christian Clemenson Tara Summers Taraji P. Henson Saffron Burrows Composer ( s ) Danny Lux Country of origin United States Original language ( s ) English No. of seasons 5 No. of episodes 101 ( list of episodes ) Production Executive producer ( s ) David E. Kelley Bill D'Elia Mike Listo Lawrence Broch Janet Leahy ( 2.04 -- 3.24 ) Scott Kaufer ( 1.01 -- 2.03, 2.23 ) Jeff Rake ( 1.01 -- 1.13 ) Running time 42 minutes Production company ( s ) David E. Kelley Productions 20th Century Fox Television Distributor 20th Television Release Original network ABC Picture format 480i ( SDTV ), 720p ( HDTV ) Original release October 3, 2004 ( 2004 - 10 - 03 ) -- December 8, 2008 ( 2008 - 12 - 08 ) Chronology Preceded by The Practice Boston Public Boston Legal is an American legal comedy - drama created by David E. Kelley and produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for ABC. The series aired from October 3, 2004 to December 8, 2008. The series stars James Spader, with William Shatner and Candice Bergen. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 2.1 The Practice characters 2.2 Main characters 3 Production 3.1 Development 4 Episodes 5 Reception 5.1 Ratings and audience profile 5.2 Awards 6 Home media 7 References 8 External links Plot A spin - off of the long - running Kelley series The Practice, Boston Legal follows the exploits of former Practice character Alan Shore at the legal firm of Crane, Poole & Schmidt. Cast Main article : List of Boston Legal characters The Practice characters James Spader as Alan Shore ( seasons 1 - 5 ; The Practice season 8 ) William Shatner as Denny Crane ( seasons 1 - 5 ; The Practice season 8 ) Rhona Mitra as Tara Wilson ( season 1, recurring 2 ; The Practice season 8 ) Lake Bell as Sally Heep ( season 1, guest 3 ; The Practice season 8 ) Main characters Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt ( episodes 11 - 101 ) René Auberjonois as Paul Lewiston ( seasons 1 - 3, recurring 4 - 5 ) Mark Valley as Brad Chase ( seasons 1 - 3, recurring 4 ) Monica Potter as Lori Colson ( season 1, recurring 2 ) Julie Bowen as Denise Bauer ( seasons 2 - 3, guest 5 ) Ryan Michelle Bathe as Sara Holt ( season 2 ) Justin Mentell as Garrett Wells ( season 2 ) Christian Clemenson as Jerry Espenson ( seasons 4 - 5, recurring 2 - 3 ) Constance Zimmer as Claire Simms ( season 3 ) Craig Bierko as Jeffrey Coho ( season 3 ) Gary Anthony Williams as Clarence Bell ( seasons 3 - 4 ) Taraji P. Henson as Whitney Rome ( season 4 ) Saffron Burrows as Lorraine Weller ( season 4 ) Tara Summers as Katie Lloyd ( seasons 4 - 5 ) John Larroquette as Carl Sack ( seasons 4 - 5 ) Production Development Prior to the show 's premiere, it had a working title of Fleet Street, an allusion to the real street in Boston where the fictitious Crane, Poole & Schmidt had its offices. The working title was later modified to The Practice : Fleet Street, but this title was dropped in favor of Boston Legal. The real building shown as the law office is located at 500 Boylston Street, 1.4 miles away from Fleet Street. The American producers of the series also hired British writer Sir John Mortimer, QC, ( creator of the UK legal series Rumpole of the Bailey ) as a consultant for Boston Legal. The show 's pilot was originally produced with former The Practice stars James Spader and Rhona Mitra, guest stars William Shatner and Lake Bell, and Mark Valley. It featured an expanded storyline with Larry Miller as Edwin Poole and John Michael Higgins as senior partner Jerry Austin. Monica Potter was later cast as junior partner Lori Colson and René Auberjonois as senior partner Paul Lewiston, replacing John Michael Higgins. The pilot premiered on ABC on October 3, 2004. On November 30, 2004, it was announced that Candice Bergen would join the cast as senior partner Shirley Schmidt, a character the producers had planned to introduce for several months. Lake Bell left the series mid-season, and René Auberjonois was promoted to main cast member. Anthony Heald and Betty White also made regular guest appearances, having both appeared as the same characters on The Practice. On April 5, 2005, the series was renewed for a second season, although ABC chose not to screen the final five episodes of Season 1 until April 24, 2005 to allow greater exposure of mid-season series Grey 's Anatomy to a larger audience. The success of Grey 's Anatomy placed Boston Legal on hold until autumn 2005, when it returned for an extended season of 27 episodes. Both Rhona Mitra and Monica Potter left the series during the hiatus, while Julie Bowen was cast as Denise Bauer. Ryan Michelle Bathe and Justin Mentell were later cast as junior associates Sara Holt and Garrett Wells. The second episode of Season 3 introduced Craig Bierko as Jeffrey Coho and Constance Zimmer as Claire Simms. In Episode 11, guest star Gary Anthony Williams joined the cast, with Craig Bierko leaving in Episode 15. On June 4, 2007, TV Guide announced that René Auberjonois, Julie Bowen, Mark Valley, and Constance Zimmer would not return for Season 4. On June 13, 2007, it was announced that actor John Larroquette ( former The Practice guest star ) would join the cast as a senior partner transferred from the New York offices of Crane, Poole & Schmidt, with actress Tara Summers joining as a young associate. Christian Clemenson ( former The Practice guest star ), who had guest - starred occasionally as Jerry Espenson ( a brilliant but socially inept lawyer ) -- was promoted to main cast. Production also stated that René Auberjonois, Mark Valley, Julie Bowen, and Constance Zimmer may return in guest roles. On July 2, 2007, it was reported that both René Auberjonois and Mark Valley would return in recurring roles ; It was also announced that Taraji P. Henson would join the cast in Season 4, with Saffron Burrows appearing in a recurring role. Burrows later became a full - time cast member. On May 13, 2008, ABC announced that Boston Legal would return for a fifth ( and final ) season in the fall. Saffron Burrows did not return as a series regular, having joined the cast of My Own Worst Enemy. The final season consisted of 13 episodes to reach the `` 100 '' episode mark, which facilitated successful syndication. There was speculation that Boston Legal might receive an additional episode - order if the show had another strong showing in the Emmy Awards and produced solid ratings in its new fall time slot. The season began airing on September 22, 2008. On June 18 and June 20, 2008, it was reported that Gary Anthony Williams and Taraji P. Henson would not return for Season 5 as Clarence Bell and Whitney Rome, respectively. On July 17, 2008, Boston Legal was nominated for a series - high seven Emmy nominations, including for Best Drama Series for the second consecutive year. Spader, Bergen, and Shatner were each nominated for their respective roles. Boston Legal 's two - hour - long series finale aired on Monday, December 8, 2008, at 9 : 00PM Eastern / 8 : 00PM Central. David E. Kelley stated in an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on December 7, 2008 that it was ABC 's decision to end Boston Legal, and that he `` had to fight to bring it back for a short season of 13 episodes ''. The series features a trademark routine whereby characters would occasionally break the fourth wall and make comments implying they are aware that they are characters in a television show. Shatner, being famous for portraying Captain Kirk, also makes occasional Star Trek references. The series aired on TV Land in the past. Episodes Main article : List of Boston Legal episodes Season Episodes Originally aired First aired Last aired 17 October 3, 2004 ( 2004 - 10 - 03 ) March 20, 2005 ( 2005 - 03 - 20 ) 27 September 27, 2005 ( 2005 - 09 - 27 ) May 16, 2006 ( 2006 - 05 - 16 ) 24 September 26, 2006 ( 2006 - 09 - 26 ) May 29, 2007 ( 2007 - 05 - 29 ) 20 September 25, 2007 ( 2007 - 09 - 25 ) May 21, 2008 ( 2008 - 05 - 21 ) 5 13 September 22, 2008 ( 2008 - 09 - 22 ) December 8, 2008 ( 2008 - 12 - 08 ) Reception Ratings and audience profile According to Nielsen Media Research, Boston Legal drew the richest viewing audience on television, based on the concentration of high - income viewers in its young adult audience ( Adult 18 -- 49 index w / $100 k+ annual income ). Seasonal rankings ( based on average total viewers per episode ) of Boston Legal on ABC. Note : Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of May sweeps. All times mentioned in this section were in the Eastern and Pacific time zones. Season Timeslot Season Premiere Season Finale TV Season Season Rank Viewers ( in millions ) Sunday 10 : 00 pm October 3, 2004 March 20, 2005 2004 -- 2005 # 28 12.53 Tuesday 10 : 00 pm September 27, 2005 May 16, 2006 2005 -- 2006 # 47 10.30 September 19, 2006 May 29, 2007 2006 -- 2007 # 62 9.57 Tuesday 10 : 00 pm Wednesday 10 : 00 pm September 25, 2007 May 21, 2008 2007 -- 2008 # 51 9.62 5 Monday 10 : 00 pm September 22, 2008 December 8, 2008 2008 -- 2009 # 47 9.62 Awards Main article : List of awards and nominations received by Boston Legal Primetime Emmy Awards : 2005 Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series ( James Spader ) 2005 Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ( William Shatner ) 2006 Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series ( Christian Clemenson ) 2007 Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series ( James Spader ) James Spader also won the 2004 Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the same role on `` The Practice ''. Golden Globe Awards : 2004 Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or TV Movie ( William Shatner ) Peabody Awards 2005, as David E. Kelley Productions, in association with 20th Century Fox Television Home media DVD Name Region 1 Region 2 Region 4 Season 1 May 23, 2006 July 24, 2006 August 9, 2006 Season 2 November 21, 2006 March 5, 2007 February 21, 2007 Season 3 September 18, 2007 January 14, 2008 October 10, 2007 Season 4 September 23, 2008 October 13, 2008 December 3, 2008 Season 5 May 5, 2009 May 11, 2009 August 5, 2009 The Complete Series May 5, 2009 May 11, 2009 November 18, 2009 References Jump up ^ Pergament, Alan ( July 19, 2004 ). `` Marketing, Legal Factors Influence TV 'S Name Game ''. The Buffalo News. Retrieved December 10, 2008. Jump up ^ The Christian Science Monitor. `` In appreciation of John Mortimer ''. The Christian Science Monitor. Jump up ^ Levin, Gary ( 2004 - 10 - 04 ). `` ' Housewives ' lifts ABC 's spirits -- and ratings ''. USA Today. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ ABC press release ( November 30, 2004 ). `` Candice Bergen Joins the Cast of ABC 's ' Boston Legal ' ''. The Futon Critic. Retrieved December 10, 2008. Jump up ^ Rice, Lynette. ( 1 ) `` Legal Aid '' ). `` Entertainment Weekly '' online, January 10, 2005. Jump up ^ `` Breaking News - Development Update : November 29 -- 30 - TheFutonCritic.com ''. thefutoncritic.com. Jump up ^ `` Breaking News - Development Update : November 15 -- 18 - TheFutonCritic.com ''. thefutoncritic.com. Jump up ^ `` Breaking News - René Auberjonois Joins the Cast of ABC 's ' Boston Legal ' ''. TheFutonCritic.com. 2013 - 09 - 14. Retrieved 2013 - 10 - 14. Jump up ^ `` Breaking News - ABC 's Medical Drama Series ' Grey 's Anatomy ' Premieres Sunday, March 27 at 10 : 00 P.M., Et ''. TheFutonCritic.com. 2013 - 09 - 14. Retrieved 2013 - 10 - 14. Jump up ^ `` Breaking News - Building on a Slate of Returning Series That Produced the Largest Season - To - Season Adult 18 - 49 Audience Growth for Any Major Network in at Least 25 Years, ABC Announces the Addition of Five New Comedies, Six New Dramas and One New Alternative Series to Its 2005 - 06 Primetime Schedule - TheFutonCritic.com ''. thefutoncritic.com. Jump up ^ `` Breaking News - Grey 's Anatomy to Continue Airing Sundays at 10 : 00 P.M. on the ABC Television Network - TheFutonCritic.com ''. thefutoncritic.com. Jump up ^ `` Breaking News - Development Update Special : Who 's in and Who 's Out - TheFutonCritic.com ''. thefutoncritic.com. Jump up ^ `` Breaking News - Three New Cast Members Join ABC 's `` Boston Legal '' - TheFutonCritic.com ``. thefutoncritic.com. Jump up ^ Ausiello, Michael. `` Boston Legal Cleans House, Drops Four Actors ! ''. TV Guide online, June 13, 2007. Jump up ^ Ausiello Report Archived June 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. at TV Guide Jump up ^ `` Larroquette added to ' Boston Legal ' bill ''. Reuters, June 14, 2007. Jump up ^ `` More cast changes at ' Boston Legal ' ''. Reuters, July 2, 2007 Jump up ^ `` Actress Burrows makes it ' Legal ' ''. July 25, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Boston Legal ''. TVGuide.com. Jump up ^ Schneider, Michael ( May 11, 2008 ). `` ' Boston Legal ' set for fifth season ''. Variety. Jump up ^ `` Zap2It ''. Zap2It. Jump up ^ Martin, Ed ( May 31, 2008 ). `` Why < em > Boston Legal < / em > is One of Broadcast 's Best ''. Huffington Post. Jump up ^ Welcome to AccessAtlanta ! AccessAtlanta Archived June 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ BET.com -- What The Flick '' Working Girl Jump up ^ Owen, Rob ( December 7, 2008 ). `` ' Boston Legal 's ' Kelley delivers parting shots ''. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 23, 2008. Jump up ^ Stanley, Alessandra ( February 14, 2006 ). `` THE TV WATCH ; Beneath the Quirks, There 's Always a Message for the Masses ''. New York Times. Jump up ^ `` ABC Renews BOSTON LEGAL, MEN IN TREES, BROTHERS, UGLY, HOUSEWIVES, GREY 'S, LOST, 7 More For Next Season ! ! '', Ain'tItCoolNews.com. Jump up ^ `` ABC Medianet ''. ABC Medianet. 2005 - 05 - 24. Retrieved 2013 - 10 - 14. Jump up ^ `` ABC Medianet ''. ABC Medianet. 2006 - 05 - 31. Archived from the original on 2014 - 10 - 11. Retrieved 2013 - 10 - 14. Jump up ^ `` ABC Medianet ''. ABC Medianet. 2007 - 06 - 05. Archived from the original on 2009 - 01 - 07. Retrieved 2013 - 10 - 14. Jump up ^ `` ABC Medianet ''. ABC Medianet. 2008 - 05 - 28. Archived from the original on 2010 - 04 - 13. Retrieved 2013 - 10 - 14. Jump up ^ `` ABC Medianet ''. ABC Medianet. 2009 - 05 - 19. Archived from the original on 2009 - 06 - 23. Retrieved 2013 - 10 - 14. Jump up ^ 65th Annual Peabody Awards, May 2006. Jump up ^ `` Amazon.com : Boston Legal Season 1 - 5 Complete Collection : William Shatner, James Spader, Candice Bergen : Movies & TV ''. amazon.com. Jump up ^ `` Buy Boston Legal - The Complete Series ( 28 Disc Tin Set ) on DVD - Video from EzyDVD.com.au ''. ezydvd.com.au. Archived from the original on 2009 - 10 - 05. External links Wikiquote has quotations related to : Boston Legal Boston Legal on IMDb Boston Legal at TV.com Television series created by David E. Kelley Series Doogie Howser, M.D. ( 1989 -- 93 ) Picket Fences ( 1992 -- 96 ) Chicago Hope ( 1994 -- 2000 ) The Practice ( 1997 -- 2004 ) Ally McBeal ( 1997 -- 2002 ) Ally ( 1999 ) Snoops ( 1999 ) Boston Public ( 2000 -- 2004 ) Girls Club ( 2002 ) The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire ( 2003 ) Boston Legal ( 2004 -- 2008 ) The Law Firm ( 2005 ) The Wedding Bells ( 2007 ) Harry 's Law ( 2011 -- 12 ) Monday Mornings ( 2013 ) The Crazy Ones ( 2013 -- 14 ) Goliath ( 2016 -- present ) Big Little Lies ( 2017 -- present ) Mr. Mercedes ( 2017 -- present ) Pilots Wonder Woman ( 2011 ) Television in the United States portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Boston_Legal&oldid=835571837 '' Categories : Boston Legal 2000s American comedy - drama television series 2004 American television series debuts 2008 American television series endings American Broadcasting Company network shows American legal television series American television spin - offs English - language television programs Peabody Award - winning television programs The Practice Television series by 20th Century Fox Television Television series created by David E. Kelley Television shows set in Boston Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links All articles with vague or ambiguous time Vague or ambiguous time from January 2016 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Asturianu Български Bosanski Dansk Deutsch Eesti Español فارسی Français 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Latina Magyar Македонски Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Română Русский Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska 中文 22 more Edit links This page was last edited on 9 April 2018, at 14 : 20. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: boston legal was a spinoff of what show
Answer: The Practice